Outgoing Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander (left) hands over the instruments of office to new Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles.
NASSAU, The Bahamas--Newly appointed Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles pledged on Friday to purge the police force of bad apples and to restore public trust in the law enforcement agency.
Knowles said the missteps of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) did not happen overnight and cannot be fixed right away, but added that the force is not defined by the actions of a few bad actors.
“Within the first 90 days of my official duties as commissioner, I will direct that all police officers and police reserves at every level will complete mandatory training sessions centred on ethics, code of conduct, justifiable force and harm, and the abuse of power,” she said at a handing over ceremony at police headquarters on East Street.
“Further, I will stipulate that all police officers working the front line wear and activate their body-worn cameras as a mandatory requirement to document all interactions with members of the public as outlined in policy.”
She said the RBPF will transform the way recruitment is carried out to include greater community involvement and a more transparent process of selecting candidates. The process will include rigorous background checks, enhanced psychological evaluations and integrity assessments.
“Make no mistake, we will weed out the minority of officers who abuse their authority in an unprofessional manner and engage in criminality,” Knowles said.
“Every officer shall be held accountable for the individual action, and we will take firm, fair and decisive measures where there are grounds for disciplinary and legal recourse. We are a nation of laws, and none of us are above the law.”
Trust in the RBPF has been considerably weakened in the wake of a recently unsealed United States (US) indictment which alleged that three members of Bahamian law enforcement, including two police officers, used their positions to assist Colombian and Bahamian drug dealers to smuggle drugs into the US.
Thirteen people were named in the document, including 11 Bahamians and two Colombians.
Allegations of corruption have also rocked the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) after explosive audio recordings were posted to social media last July.
An investigation into the allegations was launched, prompting Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson, who was head of CID at the time, to go on garden leave.
Johnson recently resigned from the force and the file in that matter has been sent to the director of public prosecutions for review.
On Friday, Knowles said the RBPF will restructure its internal processes to complement its crime fighting objectives.
“We are well aware of the threat that exists, fuelling the fear of crime in The Bahamas,” she said.
“The proliferation of illegal firearms, the illicit drug trade, illegal gangs and the rate of murder are prominent on our crime fighting agenda.”
The RBPF will also expand the clear, hold and build initiative – which was launched in Englerson last year – and incorporate it into wider policing strategies, she said.
She said the force will re-establish the inspection and review branch to ensure that all areas of the RBPF are functioning at optimum levels.
Under her watch, she said the force will review its training modules and transition the RBPF into an organisation where constant training opportunities are provided.
She also announced the creation of the Shanta Knowles Scholarship Fund, which will be available to all officers who want to continue their education in areas of law enforcement services.
New era
Prime Minister (PM) Philip Brave Davis said Friday’s event marked a new era for the police force, adding that he is confident Knowles is up to the enormous task of leading the RBPF at such a critical time.
“This is a pivotal moment for our country, and we need a leader who understands that fighting crime is about more than enforcement; it’s about engagement, rebuilding communities, and restoring faith in our institutions,” he said.
“Commissioner-designate Knowles, I am confident that you are that leader.”
Davis said many people have had their trust in the police force shaken due to stories of misconduct, corruption and a lack of accountability.
“Now, let me be clear, ignoring these realities serves no one, not the officers who wear the uniform with pride, not the communities who depend on their service and not the leadership tasked with overseeing them.
“This is why rebuilding that trust is not just a priority; it is an urgent necessity. It’s not enough to say we are committed to change. We must show it – through transparency, accountability, and actions that match our words.”
Davis said despite the “actions of a few”, the RBPF is filled with good men and women. He said it is time to reset the standard on the force and make it clear that no one is above the law.
“I have said it before, and I will say it again, we will shake the tree until every bad apple falls,” he said.
“And if shaking the tree isn’t enough, we will cut it at the root to ensure no more bad fruit grows. The actions of a few cannot and will not be allowed to tarnish this organisation’s reputation or our country’s good name.
“To those who think they can hide behind the badge and engage in wrongdoing, there is no place for you in this force. We have zero tolerance for those who do not wish to be accountable.”
The new commissioner was heralded as a woman who has achieved many “firsts”. Knowles was the first woman to lead CID and was the first female assistant commissioner of police appointed to oversee the northern Bahamas, which was her most recent posting.
Knowles noted the significance of her appointment as commissioner and recognised the women who came before her, including the first six women to join the force in 1964.
“It is indeed an exciting time for female police officers,” she said.
“It took us over 60 years to get here ... We have no intention of resting on our laurels because there is a lot at stake. We have a country to protect and an organisation to mend.”
She had this advice for other senior female officers looking to reach the force’s top post: “Dig deeper, go the extra mile because the impossible is now possible.”
Knowles, who has served on the RBPF for more than 30 years, took over from former Commissioner Clayton Fernander. ~ The Nassau Guardian ~
