The Royal Bahamas Police is a cherished part of the popular culture of The Bahamas. From the time of its inception in 1840 the Bahamas Police has enjoyed the respect of the community. Over the years this respect has increased and today it even goes beyond our shores. The Royal Bahamas Police is among the most respected police organisations in the Caribbean region and holds its head high in other international arenas. The famed Bahamas police band has perfomed several times around the world entrenching the Bahamian police officer as a recognised symbol of The Bahamas in much the same way the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are a symbol of Canada.

An honour guard of the Royal Bahamas Police in full ceremonial dress is inspected in 2006 by a  British Law Lord of the Judicial Committee of The Privy Council , The Bahamas  final court of appeal.   In ceremonial dress, the police service is a much recognised and admired icon or symbol of The Bahamas.

The officers of the Royal Bahamas Police throughout the country and also in Bimini, are heirs to this legacy of respect, admiration and esteem. At home and abroad this is true. Recently, for three consecutive years, the International Association of Chiefs of Police has awarded the Royal Bahamas Police its highest honours for our  community policing and urban renewal initatives and programmes.

As the Royal Bahamas Police Force is an object of pride, admiration and respect in the eyes of Bahamians and because of public interest in the police service, it has become an iconic part of this country's  culture.  The image of the Bahamian police officer has been used for many years to promote the country abroad. Countless souvenir items, tee-shirts, tea towels, advertisments and pieces of fine art have made the image of the Bahamas police officer a national symbol or icon. The Bahamian police officer in his crisp white tunic and pith helmet is a major tourist attraction and officers are constantly being asked for their photograph. People are often quick to purchase police-image souvenirs and post cards.

With the exception of junkanoo, the Bahamas police officer is perhaps the most recognised, esteemed and cherished symbol of The Bahamas and as such plays an important role in our national identity and our  Bahamian culture.

 1965 advertisement for a prestigious hotel in Nassau uses the image of a Bahamian police officer to help promote its property.

The government tourism agency in the mid 1960s used the image of the police officer in its international advertising campaign.

 Popular post card from 1970. Sentry Duty at Government House in Nassau. The police are still featured on several post cards.

Post Card

This advertisment featuring the police band appeared in National Geographic Magazine in the mid 1960s. The band is seen performing outside Government House in Nassau. Again the police officers are seen as iconic of The Bahamas.

See link below to see and hear the Royal Bahamas Police Band

The Royal Bahamas Police Band is featured on the Bahamas $1.00 note.

The police band is featured on a Bahamas Telecommunications pre-paid phone calling card.

CLICK THE LINK FOR THE POLICE BAND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agEfacun7Ng

Excerpt from Perry Como's Bahamas Vacation Television Special with Loretta Swit, the Royal Bahamas Police Band followed by a tour of Gray Cliff and a performance by Blind Blake

RBPF not responsible for content of outside links

OBJECTS OF ART AND HIGHLY PRIZED COLLECTABLES

The William Britains Company of the United Kingdom has long been famous for its toy soldiers cast in lead and painted by hand. The company has made countless toy soldiers and today they are highly sought after collector's items. While the Britains firm made toy-cast British soldiers such as the Royal Marines and Grenadier Guards, they also produced, in the 1950s, a limited set of the Bahamas Police Band in marching formation.  These extremely rare pieces sell today for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in the international collectables market.

The Britains Company "Bahamas Police Band"

The printing on the box depicts the colonial flag of The Bahamas in use until 1973  These "lead-cast police officers" were produced in a very limited quantity in the 1950s and today are worth hundreds and often thousands of dollars at auction and on eBay.com

If these lead cast Bahamas police officers appealed to a high-end expensive taste, there were and remain countless other items that use the image of the Bahamas police officer to promote The Bahamas including these wooden salt and pepper shakers that are certainly far less expensive.

Salt and Pepper shakers in the form of Bahamian police officers.

Nassau Royale, a much enjoyed liqueur, used the form of the Bahamas Police officer as a bottle for its highly popular spirit.

Many collectors look to antique shops or eBay.com to locate Bahamian police souvenirs. Very few other world police services can be found on eBay.com or in antique shops with items of interest for collectors. Canada's RCMP and the Bahamas RBPF are by far the leaders in police collectables which is another indication that the Bahamas' police service is clearly rooted in the pop(ular) culture of The Bahamas

ARTISTS ALSO USE THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE AS A SUBJECT

Christmas card image

As seen above several Bahamian artists have used the Royal Bahamas Police as a subject for their work.

Sterling silver souvenir spoons carried the police image as did and still do a variety of both expensive and inexpensive neck and wrist charms.

Tea-Towels feature the Royal Bahamas Police, a  common and popular souvenir item bearing the image of the Bahamas Police.

See and hear the Royal Bahamas Police Band

Click The Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agEfacun7Ng

Excerpt from Perry Como's Bahamas Vacation Television Special with Loretta Swit, the Royal Bahamas Police Band with a tour of Gray Cliff and a performance by Blind Blake

RBPF not responsible for content of outside links

The Royal Bahamas Police in Popular Culture

A most cherished,  respected and recognisable symbol of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.