Floyd Bastian
Superintendent of Police
Floyd Kent Bastian was born New Providence and lived and grew up in Nassau with his mom, Monalee Augusta Etienne nee Bain and off and on, in South Andros with his grand mother, Estella Augusta Bain nee Forbes. He was the third child born to a family of seven siblings on his mother's side: two sisters and four brothers. He began his early school education at the age of seven years and graduated at the age of sixteen from L.W Young JR/SR High School, New Providence. His mother opinion was that he was too young to be out of school and seek to enroll him into another school due to the fact that L. W Young did not allow repeat grades. However, that summer in 1978, Floyd escape to South Andros under the guise of spending the summer holidays with his two siblings that resided there at the time with his grand mother. He never did like school and had no intention of returning to the class rooms again if he could help it.
His father lived in Grand Bahama and was rarely seen or heard from. Therefore the familiarity and bond was non existent except by way of listening to stories told; these seldom occurred in Floyd's presence. Going back to Nassau or going to Grand Bahama was the decision he faced. School was definitely a nightmare while the thrill of an unseen land and the deep feeling for new adventures ran deeply in his veins. So armed with the calculated conviction that the four walls of school was no place for him to be, he somehow caught a charter flight Helda Air, that was going to Freeport, Grand Bahama...freedom.
The slow agonizing drone of that old DC 3 took almost forever to land at Freeport National Airport. The land was like a fairy tale. Topography and development comparable to the United States greeted him as he looked around in awe and knew that Nassau would soon become a distant memory. The trick now was how to remain in Grand Bahama without being sent back to his home and to school; how to ensure that mother and father did not have a conversation...at least for a while.
He had a phone number that was given to him years ago. Armed with it he used a paid phone and called his father. He introduced himself over the phone because his father did not recognize his voice. They spoke for about ten minutes and as his father was about to end the call, Floyd told him to hold on and asked if his father would be able to come to the airport for him. His father was startled, to say the least. He asked Floyd which airport was he at. Floyd told him that the sign read: Freeport Flying Club.
He was collected five minutes later by his father. As they drove away from the airport, his father asked him how come he was in Grand Bahama and why was he not in school. He responded and told his father that he had graduated and that his mother said: go Freeport and seek your father; she had done her part, now it was the father's time to assist.
Floyd knew that there was that possibility that his mom would soon find out where he had absconded to, so he called his mother and told her that his father had sent for him and promised to send him to college. This move had the desired effect. His mom was comfortable knowing where he was and his father was not about to engage in a war of words over the phone with his mom by calling to verify the story that Floyd had told him. Presto! Magic again!
His father placed him to work in his auto mechanic garage and to be responsible also for the Rental Car Company. As they say, business and family do not mix, and this proved to be true. His father did not pay him regularly over the ensuing weeks. So it became a war of firing and quitting. If his father took too long to fire him, he would quit. Conversely, if he took too long to quit. His father would fire him. This went on for months until Floyd decided to join Freeport Flying Club and studied to become a pilot.
After completing ground school under one Mr. Dennis Williams, flight instructor he was eligible to go to Opalocha Florida to take the written exam to obtain his private pilot license. His father would not provide the necessary funding for the trip. This was the straw that broke the camel's back. Floyd packed up, and headed back to Nassau.
In Nassau he returned to doing body and mechanic work like he used to do after school. He did this type of work in the family yard at home. At the age of thirteen he had taken the exam to join the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He was still in school at the time, however, he had a friend that he emulated and did most of the things his friend did. His friend had taken the exam, but his friend was old enough but Floyd was not. The Examiner humoured him and allowed him to sit the exam. The Examiner was amazed at the results and told F Lloyd that his results would be kept on record and encouraged him to go play basketball and stretch so that he could attain the required height.
Years and a son later a recruiting officer came in the neighborhood looking for Floyd Bastian. He was a big fellow on a small Honda Fifty Motor Bike. It looked more like the bike should be riding him than the other way around. Floyd was finally enlisted in the Royal Bahamas Police Force on 23rd August, 1982. He placed third overall in the E Squad 1982. Refusing to contribute to the purchasing of an automobile for a retiring senior officer, In October, 1983, he was transferred to Grand Bahama as punishment.
While working in Grand Bahama, many notables and achievements were added to his credit. There were even more challenges. His position was not in being fair, but in being right first. Placed in the Fire Services he mastered the art of Fire Suppression; heavy duty chauffeur and pump operator; Jaws of Life Technician; Fire Investigator; Fire Prevention Officer and Guard Commander.
Because of his straight forwardness and a strong aversion to injustice he was regularly shifted from one Division or Department to another. He was never deemed lazy, lousy or incompetent and despite his candidness, there was not a commander that did not desire to have him as part of any operation that they were responsible for. Consequently, he worked in areas such as CID; DEU; Central Police Station; Traffic Police Division; High Rock Missile Base; Eight Mile Rock Division and West End Division and numerous operations.
Floyd became the leading Debater for the Grand Bahamas Division for years and never lost a match up to the time he retired from active debate competitions. Incidentally, he was so fierce and indomitable an opponent that former Police Commissioner of Police Mr. B K Bonamy (deceased) sent a ticket to Jamaica for then Cpl. 103 Kieth Bell to team up with Charles Seley in an attempt to deal, with P.C 1008 Bastian and P. C 1847 Hutchinson and to unseat them as best debaters. Mr. Seley declined and Cpl. 40 Campbell took his place. They were both soundly whipped and the floating trophy is currently and effectively retired in Grand Bahama.
The Police Staff Association became a reality in 1997. P. C 1008 Bastian was elected in its first election as a member of the Constable Branch Board. In 2002 he was appointed to the position as Executive Chairman. Appointed and not elected because the entire elected members believed that given the state of the Association at the time, Floyd was the only, person capable of saving the Association. After hours of refusing the position he finally relented with a few conditions: All who are elected and owes the Association any monies, pay up, resign or go to court; those who were corrupt, resign and put in place criteria for membership. All members must be exemplary officers in what ever Division they work. They must strived at all times to be a positive example. It was his stated position that he was not prepared to fight for officers that were slack or corrupt and undisciplined. They agreed. He accepted. He kept his word; they did not.
Staff Association
While serving as Chairman of the Police Staff Association there were numerous wars fought and many battles won. Sad to say that the most significant battles were left undone due time in office and not being pursued by successors. Among the battles initiated by Floyd was the Police Health Insurance. The most significant portion was allowed to go unchallenged. That portion read: 'the officer and spouse would be covered until death'; not cease or become an expense to officers that had given all of their youth and health in service to country; especially at an age when insurance for persons with all the acquired ailments obtained while serving, is nearly impossible. Prior to enlistment, the medical examiner said that all officers were in good and healthy condition.
The Government was also petitioned strongly to allocate fifty percent of all government housing schemes to Police Officers; allowing them to move in and rent to own. The argument was twofold: officers would be hard pressed to find payment and legal fees, but would more than likely be able to pay the mortgage payments. All other fees could be enshrined in the one payment. If this was agreed to, it would also be used as a deterrent for crime. Wherever uniforms are regularly seen, less criminals would take certain risks. The Government, after strong bargaining, conceded to making it mandatory for forty percent to be allocated to Security Services such as Police, Customs, Immigrations, Defense and Prison Officers. This again was not pursued by the Association after Floyd left office and as result, one Police Officer was able to enjoy the agreed arrangement.
Promoted to Corporal after serving for fifteen years and eleven months, Floyd also challenged the Promotional System by applying three consecutive years to the Inspectors Promotion Board, leapfrogging over the Sergeants Promotion Board. On the third application he was successful in being invited to the Inspectors Promotion Board for an interview. He was questioned by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Rolle and told that such action did not take place in the Royal Bahamas Police Force. To which Floyd responded by producing a Force Order showing otherwise. Among the otherwise were officers such as Cpl. 103 Keith Bethel. The Deputy Commissioner said that they were lawyers; Floyd indicated the caption that said ' Police Promotion'. He was then asked by the Deputy Commissioner , the Chairman of the Board, If Floyd knew what it would cost the RBPF to hire such caliber of persons- To which Floyd said, yes and withdrew a poster that advertised the RBPF with a female officer superimposed there on and showing the varying salaries and the degrees attached thereto. His argument was that nowhere on the poster it said that one would be promoted as a result of having a degree. Floyd was not promoted (sic).
This did not deter him from providing exemplary service to the Force and Communities. He was heralded in all the major storms that adversely affected Grand Bahama and was always in charge of Search and Rescue. Even the Assistant Commissioners were comfortable placing their own safety in Floyd's hand. He trained numerous persons in safety and rescue practices, among them, Hospitals and Clinics; BORCO; Freeport Power; Hotels and Government Departments. He hosted numerous lectures and was invited to lecture at safety seminars. He represented the RBPF on many levels and brought favorable reports to the Organization.
There are many feats performed above and beyond that space nor time will permit in this circumstance. Whenever there seemed to be impossible tasks to perform Floyd, for some reason unknown, perhaps, was always a prime candidate to send. In recent times he was sent to Mangrove Cay and South Andros. Law and Order was brought to those two in such a fashion that even the vilest criminal had respect and confidence in the RBPF. The law abiding citizens were elated and reinvigorated to life. They had nothing but high praises for the RBPF. There was no special favors and all were treated equal under the law. The relationship between Police and Community became so strong that the community lost all fear of the Police and was willing to assist even unasked. Suspects were treated fairly and the officers welfare were paramount. Everyone felt valued. The Senior Citizens Home still praise the Police that served with Floyd Bastian due to the many assistances that were given. There was an annual Thanksgiving Luncheon given annually to all citizens aged 65 and over; both in South Andros and Mangrove Cay. A full set of linen was provided for each bed in the Senior Citizen Home annually in the name of the RBPF. Every year a plaque was given to the top male and female student and the most improved male and female in the Primary, Junior and High School in South Andros and in Mangrove Cay. Each plaque was named after a retired officer that was a descendant of South Andros and Mangrove Cay. In this way it was hoped that curiosity would cause others as well as the students to research that particular officers name and learn more about there own heroes. Like the Glen Miller Academic Award for Most Improve Male and Female; the Ashton Miller Academic Award for the Most Outstanding Male and Female Student of the Year. Students that were not able to pay for graduation and were disillusioned were encouraged to make the grade and Floyd, with the consent of the parents, would finance the graduation.
Floyd was transferred to West End Grand Bahama in 2018 after serving in the South Andros and Mangrove Cay District under the most challenging of conditions, from inadequate manpower to no Police Vehicle at times. Yet the AS400 will reflect the huge amount of illegal drugs that were confiscated with no outside help from any Department or Division within the RBPF. The record also will reflect persons that were also apprehended in relations to these seizure. Illegal immigrants were also taken into custody in large numbers including Haitians and Cubans. All were treated humanely and with decency and respect while int the custody of Police. It would be noted that the nearest rank to Superintendent Floyd Bastian, was a female Sergeant while in South Andros and Mangrove Cay District.
Going into West End seemed to be a replay of South Andros and Mangrove Cay District. The relationship between the Police and Community was terrible. In a few moths time that condition was changed. Despite the fact that West End was saddled with sedentary duties and inadequate manpower and inadequate vehicles and delapitated at best. The relationship was established in amicable fashion. The crime rate was reduced to virtually non existence. Members of the community fellowshipped and greeted Police Officers with warm familiarity. The school Principal worked very closely with the Police and Floyd was able to secure an agreement that allowed him to have access to grades four, five and six every Friday from 1:00pm until 3:00pm. He shared this time to communicate positive lessons and encouragement to each grade using language that could be understood at the various levels. Improvement was seen in all aspects of the program and the teachers were well pleased with the success of it. The business community, although reluctant at first, came around to the understanding that the law was for everyone. After forty one establishment were closed in one day they saw the wisdom in conformity. Town meetings were consistently attended by Floyd and his officers. They became like family in the local community and was treats with much deference.
Eighteen months in West End and Floyd was assigned to Abaco. In Abaco he was placed in charge of Marsh Harbor Area. He was one of the Superintendent that served under the leadership of Chief Superintendent Bruce Arnette. Much strides were gain in the quest to prepare the Policing Island back to normal.
A month later and presently, Floyd Bastian, Superintendent of Police, is the officer in charge of Police Transportation and Police Stores. The Stores and Transport are located in Peele Street an area devastated by Hurricane Dorian. The place is destitute but the will and fortitude that has been forged into the hearts and soul of those men that were met on the verge of giving up, is remarkable. They are of the view that this, new found zeal was invoked by the presence and leadership of Floyd. They contend that they were seeking transfer to any place other than where they are.
It is Floyd's profound belief that every officer and every human being should always seek to leave a thing better than they met it. Life is a relay. Run your race the best you can and with the intent of providing as far as you possibly can, the one to whom you pass your baton to, a better chance to win.
Floyd Bastian
floyd.bastian@rbpf.bs
