NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — Prime Minister Phillip Davis is backing the appointment of Shanta Knowles, as the first female commissioner of police in The Bahamas, saying she is a leader committed to guiding and reforming the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) “so that we can make urgently needed progress in public safety”.

“She is stepping up to lead at a time of great difficulty and she has articulated a clear and strong vision for change.

“I am confident that the Bahamian people are rooting for the RBPF’s new leadership team and praying that they will find only success in their efforts to change and reform the force to fight gangs, violence, and disorder, and to restore trust in our communities,” he added.

Knowles, took over the position from Clayton Fernander last weekend, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the RBPF’s 184-year history.

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith,” Fernander said on his departure.

Knowles has already pledged to weed out rogue officers and to restore the image of the RBPF amid the controversy over the arrest of a senior police officer and a senior Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officer in the United States last November. They are now facing charges of conspiracy to import cocaine, possession and use of firearms as well as firearms conspiracy.

Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker are before the federal courts in New York on the charges while a third officer has also been named in the indictment and has since been suspended from duty.

The police said other Bahamians have also been named in the indictment.

“Make no mistake, we will weed out the minority of officers who abuse their authority in an unprofessional manner and engage in criminality,” she said.

“Every officer shall be held accountable for their 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.

“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,” Knowles said.

“Further, I will stipulate that all police officers working the frontline 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 in addition, “We will review our training modules and transition the force into a learning organisation where constant training opportunities are provided in disciplines of leadership management, oral and public communication, professional etiquette, technology, criminal intelligence, criminal investigation, crime analysis, and best police practices.

“This direction will ensure that the police force will remain on the cutting edge of the ever-changing crime landscape.

“To that end, I am pleased to announce the Shanta Knowles Scholarship Fund that will be available to all officers desirous of continuing their education in disciplines of law enforcement services.”

Knowles said the force will transform how recruitment is carried out to add more community involvement and rigorous background checks.