RBPF 1804-2020
The Royal Bahamas Police Force is a noble Organization founded on the tenets of integrity, loyalty and courage. Celebrating 180 years of distinguished and exceptional policing service, the Force continues to execute its core mandate as outlined in the Police Act which includes: maintaining law and order, preserving the peace, preventing and detecting crime, apprehending offenders and enforcing all laws.
In retrospect, the Organization has profoundly transitioned from a time when notes were recorded with quill pens, and vacillation on the primary means of transportation for Inspectors were horses. Fast-forward to the 20th and 21st Centuries that ushered in the digital age and computer automation that revolutionized the entire model of the Organization with the touch of a button. The Force continues to transition into a learning organization with constant training; employing college/university graduates with various professional disciplines; technological advancements with ballistics testing; ShotSpotter; forensics science; closed circuit surveillance; crime scene investigations; information communications technology; and so on. The Force has undoubtedly evolved over the years with access to unlimited resources at its disposal in the fight against crime.
Yet, from the early 18th Century to the latter part of the 19th Century, the development of policing in The Bahamas followed the policing pattern in England. During the 1st period, men were appointed as constables to assist in the enforcement of government rules and apprehending offenders. Night Watchmen were introduced as a system of night patrols assigned to protect Nassau. The West India Regiment was stationed in Nassau to contend with any serious breach of peace and they were trained soldiers recruited from different ethnic groups in Africa and the Caribbean. They lived at the Barracks in isolation from the population to ensure their loyalty.
As time passed and crime increased, a small number of constables were appointed to serve at the same time. However, they were never organized as a formal police force. Each constable was assigned to the Magistrate in a particular district. Notwithstanding, the Royal Bahamas Police Force was formed on March 1, 1840 with 17 men including Inspector General John Pinder who commanded the Force. These men were responsible for conducting 24 hour patrols of New Providence. Although the Force was non-military during the early years, its primary function was to protect The Bahamas from outsiders. By 1841, the strength of the Force expanded to 31 men. However, in 1845 the strength was reduced to 17 men due to budgetary constraints. This move decreased morale and sparked conflict among the men as resources were spread thin.
In 1849, the Force was under the command of Acting Inspector Stephen Dillet. However, he demitted office in 1863 following a Commission of Inquiry that opined his dual position as Inspector and Postmaster conflicted with his ability to effectively command the Force. Meanwhile in 1860, an Act was passed that authorized Stipendiary Magistrates the power to appoint men to serve as Constables on the Family Islands. Although the men were not official members of the Force, they were vested with all the powers of a Constable. This solved the manpower problem among the Family Islands by quadrupling the strength of the Force with unpaid volunteers. By 1863, the manpower of the Force increased to 100 police officers for deployment between Nassau and the Family Islands.
Inspector Stephen Dillet was officially succeeded by Acting Inspector Edward Vernon in 1863. Additionally, Mr. Vernon handed over command to Mr. Charles Sutton in 1864. During Sutton's tenure, the Police Act of 1864 was introduced and it outlined the establishment, strength and distribution of the Force. Notably, it stipulated qualifications to enter the Force and provided better working conditions for officers. After 22 commanding the Force, Mr. Charles Sutton handed over command to Postmaster R.C. Crawford. Sub-Inspector F.A. Scotland succeeded R.C. Crawford in 1889 who was later succeed by Inspector F.C. Halkett that same year.
In 1954, the Force experienced tremendous growth as Mr. Edward Dewitt Sears was the 1st Bahamian appointed to act as Commissioner. Simultaneously, the Force recruited men from Trinidad and Barbados and other Caribbean Islands. Mr. Sears retired in 1955 and he was succeeded by Mr. E.J.H. Colchester-Weymss. Commissioner Weymss laid the foundation for modernizing the Force with emphasis on police welfare. In 1958, the Security and Intelligence Branch was established with a mandate that extended to special escorts for VIPs and collecting, collating and disseminating information that is vital to the security of the Country.
Police Radio Control Room was established in 1959 with a number of cars outfitted with police radios for two way communication. Similarly, Force Garage was established that same year and their duties have increased from managing two vehicles to a fleet of vehicles including saloon cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, scooter, bicycles and so on.
As Grand Bahama became the second city due to its population growth in the 1960s, the need to effectively police the Island became evident. Therefore, officers were rotated on the Island for a six months period before being relieved. The Force continued to keep pace with modern times during this decade with the introduction women police officers and voluntary police reserves. In November 1964, the 1st squad of 6 females were recruited into the Force. Similarly, in August 1965, the 1st squad of 56 voluntary police reserves were recruited into the Force. Notably, in February 1966, the prefix "Royal" was conferred to "The Bahamas Police Force" by His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
On June 1, 1973, Mr. Salathiel Thompson was appointed Commissioner of Police. Notably, on July 10, 1973, he became the 1st Bahamian Commissioner of Police to serve under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Mr. John H. Hinmarsh of Britain and held the top position for 8 years until his retirement in 1981. Commissioner Thompson enlisted into Force on October 11, 1937 and his career as a police officer spans an impressive 44. He was noted for navigating the Force during a critical time of Independence.
In 1981, Mr. Gerald Augustus Bartlett became the 2nd Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Salathiel Thompson and held the top position for 6 years until his retirement in 1987. Commissioner Bartlett enlisted into Force on October 10, 1946 and his career as a police officer spans an impressive 41 years. He was noted for his quality of service, unblemished character and being an exemplary beacon of integrity and honor.
On November 21, 1987, Mr. Bernard Kenneth Bonamy became the 3rd Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Gerald Bartlett and held the top position for 14 years until his retirement on November 21, 2001. Commissioner Bonamy enlisted into Force on June 17, 1963 and his career as a police officer spans an impressive 38 years. He was noted for transitioning the Force into the digital age of technology with the introduction of computerization in 1989 and his zero tolerance stance during the extremely difficult years when narcotics trafficking and its associated criminality were challenging factors for The Bahamas.
On November 21, 2001, Mr. Paul H. Farquharson became the 4th Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Bernard K. Bonamy and held the top position for 8 years until his retirement on March 16, 2009. Commissioner Farquharson enlisted into the Force on December 12, 1966 and his career as a police officer spans an impressive 44 years. He is noted for his community policing initiatives, improving the image of the Force, and transforming the Force into an intelligence led policing Organization.
On March 16, 2009, Mr. Reginald Ferguson became the 5th Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Paul H. Farquharson and held the top position for less than a year until his retirement on January 4, 2010. Commissioner Ferguson enlisted into the Force on October 13, 1965 and his career as a police officer spans an impressive 44 years. He is noted for his impeccable character and making significant strides in the fight against crime, particularly illegal drugs.
On January 4, 2010, Mr. Ellison Edroy Greenslade became the 6th Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Reginald Ferguson and held the top position for 8 years until his retirement on October 30, 2017. Commissioner Greenslade enlisted into the Force on May 11, 1979 and his career spans an impressive 38 years. He is noted for his astuteness, charisma and pioneering automation and information technology and communication within Force.
On October 30, 2017, Mr. Anthony Ferguson became the 7th Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Ellison Edroy Greenslade and currently holds the top office of the Force. Commissioner Ferguson enlisted into the Force on November 21, 1980. He is noted for creating synergy amongst officers and rekindling police month activities and the police ball.
On March 30, 2020, Mr. Paul A. Rolle became the 8th Bahamian Commissioner of Police appointed under an Independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He succeeded Bahamian Commissioner Anthony Ferguson and currently holds the top office of the Force. Commissioner Rolle enlisted into the Force on March 16, 1983. As Commissioner of Police, he has command, superintendence, direction and control of the Force and is the ex-officio Provost Marshall. Since his appointment at the helm of the Organization, Commissioner Rolle has introduced a new vision for creating safer communities with 7 priorities. Simultaneously, Commissioner Rolle has also embarked on an herculean task to aggressively restructure the Force by producing and releasing policy documents to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness of all police officers.
Today, the strength of the Force stands at 2,627 police officers, police reserves and police civilians. The organization's operating environment is dynamic and continues to rapidly change to reflect global trends. Accordingly, the Force continues to secure and foster productive partnerships nationally, regionally and internationally to remain fundamentally successful. The organization's current crime fighting strategies and policing initiatives seek to build safer communities through engaging public discourse, support and participation.