The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY 600 Royal Bahamas Police Force officers have been promoted in a widespread exercise.

Notable promotions include former superintendents Stephen Dean, Melvin Lundy and Carolyn Bowe who have joined the ranks of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) while former ACPs Anthony Ferguson, Emrick Seymour, Leon Bethel and Stephen Seymour were promoted to the rank of senior assistant commissioner.

Those promoted to chief superintendent, the highest rank after an ACP, included: Elburt Ferguson, Ronald Campbell, Clement Lightbourne, Kendal Strachan, Ismella Davis, Leamond Deleveaux, Clayton Fernander, Ashton Greenslade, Samuel Butler, Paul Rolle, Clarence Reckley and Theophilus Cunningham.

Mr Rolle heads the Central Detective Unit.

Officers were informed of their promotions by email Tuesday evening from Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, The Tribune understands.  

The promotions came after months of speculation over the protracted process, which included concerns that political interference may have been involved.

The Tribune understands that 222 constables were promoted to corporal; 169 corporals to sergeant, 49 sergeants to acting inspector, 34 sergeants to inspector, 34 inspectors to acting superintendent, 41 inspectors to assistant superintendent, one chief inspector to assistant superintendent, 23 assistant superintendents to acting superintendent, 17 assistant superintendents to superintendent and 12 superintendents to chief superintendent.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Police Staff Association (PSA) President Dwight Smith congratulated the promoted officers.

“I’m happy it’s out of the way because lots of officers were getting distracted,” he said. “We congratulate those officers promoted and encourage those who didn’t get promoted to be encouraged. We also congratulate the commissioner if they were indeed his selections.”

However, Mr Smith, who first raised concerns to The Tribune several weeks ago about possible political interference, said he still has concerns about the recent promotions. He said he will investigate certain matters fully before speaking about them.

He also called the promotions the biggest exercise of its kind since the previous Christie administration was in office. He also questioned the need and purpose for the ranks of acting inspector, acting assistant superintendent and acting superintendent.

He said those positions, which were eliminated under the previous Ingraham administration, are sometimes referred to as “political ranks.”

The Tribune understands that those officers in these positions will remain in them for at least a year, after which the commissioner will determine whether they will be promoted to the substantive rank or not.

In the meantime, they will not receive a pay rise or other benefits associated with the substantive position.

The promotions took effect from October 1.