Scroll down the page for these particular stories:

-The Crown and The Royal Bahamas Police

-Awards and Honours for the Royal Bahamas Police

AN OVERVIEW OF OUR  HISTORY

From the mid 1600s until 1973 The Bahamas was a British territory. Consequently, much of our history and our culture was greatly influenced by British customs and traditions. Our judicial system is no exception. The police service in The Bahamas is firmly rooted in British custom and tradition. The modern rank structure is based on British models from Scotland Yard and the police uniforms are  based on British military and police service designs. The tropical  white tunics and bush jackets worn by the officers, similar to tropical dress for the British Royal Marines, are iconic of The Bahamas much in the same way as the  scarlet serge tunic of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is to Canada. Senior officers are sometimes selected for advanced studies in management and organisation in Britain. The Bahamas police service has evolved since its formal inception in 1840 into an  efficient, modern, respected and professional law enforcement agency.

In 1729 local magistrates were assisted by "constables" who put into force judicial orders. These court constables were not considered "police or peace" officers. Policing, in these early years, was often the responsibility of the British military posted to The Bahamas. Even this would not come close to our modern understanding of policing. However, by 1799 Bahamian constables were considered equal to British constables in the "Mother Country" and they were empowered to investigate criminal activity and place people before the courts for breaches of the law. Still, they were attached to magistrates and did not constitute a police force.                                                                        

In 1838 slavery was finally abolished throughout the British Empire and the British West Indies, of which The Bahamas was part. With a growing population and changing social conditions crime increased and it became apparent that a police force was required to maintain the Queen's peace in the islands, particularity New Providence, where Nassau was located. At first a Night Guard was formed but this proved not to meet the needs of the community. On March 1, 1840 the Bahamas House of Assembly passed a Police Act which was signed by the British Governor and the Bahamas Police Force was established. The new police force had one Inspector-General and 16 officers. 

The Bahamas Police Force provided policing services to New Providence and eventually posted members to the Out Islands. On the Out Islands some men offered themselves for service as peace officers and were called Local Constables or they were appointed Auxiliary Constables. They provided policing services when required, otherwise they continued in their main occupations. District Constables were appointed on an annual basis to assist in particular operations or police initiatives.

As the population grew and the police force required change, amendments were made to the Police Act to ensure that the Bahamas Police Force could provide effective policing services to the colony. Eventually, the Inspector General became Commissioner of Police with a deputy commissioner and assistant commissioners, superintendents and inspectors, sergeants, corporals and constables.

In 1965 the Police Reserve was established to work with the regular officers in general police duties. Today, the police reserve, with over 1000 officers, forms an important arm of the police service with reserve officers working in all areas of the police service. Women were permitted to join the police service in the mid 1960s and they too perform police duties in all areas of policing standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. Many local and auxilary constables, beach and traffic wardens were absorbed into the regular force or the reserve. The police service continues to appoint District Constables to perform particular responsibilities as defined by the Commissioner of Police.

 

Headquarters in Nassau, 1960s.

In 1966 during her first visit to The Bahamas as queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II conferred the title "royal" upon the Bahamas Police service establishing a particular bond between herself and her Bahamian police officers. In 1973 The Bahamas became an independent nation but chose to retain the Queen as the Head of State and the title "royal" continues to form part of the title of police service. 2006 marked the fortieth anniversary of the conferal of the style "Royal".

Sentry Duty in 1968 at Government House on Mount Fitzwilliam in Nassau.

 

 Bishop S B Pinder, JP,  former local constable in Bimini(1955).

Stanley Pinder was Bimini's local constable in the 1950s. Seen here standing outside the Government Offices in 1955, Pinder would eventually join the Bimini Big Game Resort and Marina as the maitre d' of the hotel's restaurant. He also studied for the ministry. Today, he is The Reverend Bishop Stanley Pinder, pastor of Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church, a Justice of The Peace, a Marriage Officer and former Chief Councillor of Bimini's District Council. The first to hold such a post. He remains a strong supporter of the police service in Bimini.

When Stanley Pinder left his position as a local constable he was replaced by Bimini's Lucius Weech who later joined the regular force and had a distinguished policing career centred primarily in Grand Bahama. Weech, now retired, achieved the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

In Nassau, the Royal Bahamas Police mounts the guard at an official ceremony.

This photograph was taken in the early 1970s at Rawson Square. The Police continue to perform ceremonial duties at numerous royal and state occasions including the opening of parliament and the installation of a governor general.

THE CROWN AND THE BAHAMAS POLICE SERVICE

Queen Elizabeth II in Nassau, in 1966, on her first visit to the then British colony of The Bahama Islands at Nassau. 

The Bahamas was a British territory for over 300 years. On this royal visit the Queen granted the Bahamas police service the title "Royal". She is the great-great grand-daughter of Queen Victoria(died in 1901) who signed the final emancipation act in 1838 and who established Nassau as a city. Queen Victoria's statue is seen behind the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip.

The Bahamas Police received the title "Royal" from the Queen in February 1966. This royal honour, shared with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and several other British Commonwealth policing agencies, is a mark of the high esteem and deep regard felt for the police officers of The Bahamas by Her Majesty. While political independence from the United Kingdom was achieved in 1973, the Queen constitutionally continues to serve as the ceremonial Head of State and Sovereign of The Bahamas, as "Queen of The Bahamas", which is a legal "Crown" quite separate from that of the United Kingdom. She is represented in The Bahamas by the Governor General. The Governor General, appointed by the Queen of The Bahamas, is a very distinguished Bahamian, currently His Excellency The Hon Arthur D. Hanna. He acts as Head of State in the Queen's absence. The Queen/Crown is a symbol of authority, sovereignty and national unity.  The Queen is also recognised as "Head of The Commonwealth", an international association of  53 former British territories. The Head of Government is the elected prime minister, currently the Right Hon Hubert Ingraham, who together with his ministers, is responsible for the day to day governing of the country and is answerable to the elected House of Assembly. The Governor General always acts on the advice of the elected prime minister except in those areas or circumstances where the Constitution specifies otherwise. The British Government is represented in The Bahamas by the British High Commissioner (ambassador) who is resident in Jamaica. The British High Commissioner is a member of the diplomatic corps accredited to The Bahamas. Commonwealth countries do not exchange "ambassadors" but rather "high commissioners". However, a high commissioner is equal in rank to an ambassador. The Canadian High Commissioner (ambassador) to The Bahamas is also resident in Jamaica. 

www.bahamas.gov.bs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_of_the_Bahamas

His Excellency Governor General The Honourable Arthur D Hanna, represents The Crown in The Bahamas. He is the symbolic head of our national family and acts as Head of State, a role different from Head of Government, which is the role of the elected prime minister, The Governor General is appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the prime minister.

 HM Queen Elizabeth II in Nassau

The Queen's youngest son, HRH Prince Edward, (left) stands with Gov Gen A D Hanna as a Governor General Award Programme Plaque of Honour is presented to Mr Jim Richard of Abaco. Mr Richard was formerly a teacher at Bimini All Age School. He is currently serving as a school principal in Abaco.

Today, the Royal Bahamas Police is comprised of regular officers, reserve officers, local and district constables, community peace officers and civilian staff members that together number over three thousand. 

HONOURING POLICE  OFFICERS

Members of The Royal Bahamas Police Force are honoured from time to time for exceptional achievement,remarkable merit, exemplary conduct and long service. The following medals and awards are available:

THE QUEEN'S POLICE MEDAL (QPM)

The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers for distinguished service. Police officers who receive this medal have had their names recommended to The Queen by the Bahamas Government. The award is announced in either the Queen's New Year's Honours List or Brithday Honours List. This is a highly prized and most respected award for police officers and it is awarded throughout The Commonwealth. Current Commissioner Reginald Ferguson has this medal as does Senior Assistant Commissioner Ellision Greenslade. Former commissioner Paul Farquharson has also been awarded this prestigious medal for distinguished service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Police_Medal

COMMENDATIONS

From time to time and in exceptional circumstances police officers are awarded a Commissioner's Commendation for outstanding merit or heroism. Commendations have also been awarded to officers by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE

This medal is given to many officers and it marks them as men and women who have performed their policing responsibilities in an exemplary manner. The medal is awarded, as its name implies, for remarkable merit and professional service. Police reserve officers have a similar medal recognising their service.

GOOD CONDUCT AND LONG SERVICE MEDAL

Recognising many years of stellar service to The Bahamas as a police officer, this medal is also awarded to recoginse "good conduct" over a lengthy career as a law enforcement professional.  A similar medal for long and faithful service is available to officers in the reserve branch.

THE BAHAMAS POLICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY

This medal was Instituted to recoginse an outstanding feat of exceptional heroic valour in the face a great odds as a police officer.

THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER AND ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL

These awards are given personally by The Queen on her own behalf to any persons who have rendered personal service to her or the monarchy in some manner. The Royal Victorian Order, which has several grades or levels, was awarded to former police commssioner B K Bonamy. He was named a Lieutenant of The Order (LVO). Assistant Commissioner Rebeun Smith received the Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) which recognised his assistance to The Queen during one of her visits to the country. These medals are not limited to police officers but to any person who serves the Queen. However, they are listed here because they were awarded to two senior police officers of the Royal Bahamas Police.

Police officers who have received a medal display them on their full dress uniforms for ceremonial occasions. When in regular uniform the officer wears only the ribbon of the medal(as displayed above).

Some officers, especially in years past, also received other medals from the Queen including the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal or Golden Jubilee Medal or have received awards in the Order of The British Empire. These awards are also worn with the awards listed above. One of the last holders of the Queen's Colonial Police Medal, Senior Assistant Commissioner Alan Gibson, retired last year after nearly fifty years of policing services to The Bahamas.