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Family disputes police chief: 'We did not apologize'

Police Commissioner Shanta E. Knowles presents Meet the Press 2025 at the Paul Farquharson Center on February 3, 2025.

Police Commissioner Shanta E. Knowles presents Meet the Press 2025 at the Paul Farquharson Center on February 3, 2025.

By AVA TURNQUEST

and LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

The family of Gihano Moss today denied they have apologised for their public statements accusing the police of retaliation in connection with an armed raid of their home despite pronouncements from incoming Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles.

According to Mrs Knowles, Moss succumbed to his injuries "a day or two" after the traffic collision near Saunders Beach on January 27. 

A day after his family publicly criticised the police for not reporting Moss’ death as a traffic fatality, police executed an armed search at the home of his mother - a move the family believes to be retaliatory.

However, at a "Meet The Press" event today, Mrs Knowles claimed his family apologised during a meeting at Road Traffic this morning. She said police executing the search warrant were not aware of the property’s connection to Moss, and that the commanding officer of the search expressed condolences to the family at the time of the search once it had been revealed.

"We know that the senior officer at the scene immediately expressed his condolences to the family," she said during the event that was broadcast live from the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters. 

Mrs Knowles continued: "I can tell you that this morning the family met with Chief Superintendent Porter at the traffic department and they have apologised to Chief Superintendent Porter and to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for someone in their family speaking out against this without full knowledge of our communications with them."

Upon learning of the commissioner’s statements in an interview with The Tribune, Sharine Williams, Moss’s aunt, said: “That ain't true. That isn't true.”

Ms Williams, who attended the Road Traffic meeting, said there was no apology offered by the family for their public comments, adding she still believes the armed search was retaliatory. She said Moss' mother, another aunt and two nieces attended the meeting.

Ms Williams said: “We went to Road Traffic today. Well it went fine and they said that they are investigating. They apologised, but not the ones that did the search, they ain't apologise.” 

The Tribune reported on the family’s ordeal as a dozen armed officers reportedly descended on their Gamble Heights residence.

According to Ms Williams, one officer approached her in the front yard and remarked: “You think I ain’t see you on the news?” She said she responded: “Yes. I didn’t say anything wrong.”

At the press event this morning, Mrs Knowles confirmed the officers who executed the search warrant were wearing body cameras that had been activated.

This is a developing story.

Comments

TalRussell 5 days, 6 hours ago

Tis no reason for an apology! -- Me thinkin', that what's we have here is a story,"wit two different truths." --- "M'lady" COP, has her's and the family's perceived events was differently-based on their own perspective, biases, and experiences. -- Meaning, theys' recounting of the same event-but just differently than that perceived by "M'lady" COP** -- "Twas no intent of perjury. --Yes?

mandela 5 days, 3 hours ago

Corruption and retaliation all over again aint nothing changed, it's just from pants to skirts. Ms, new Commissioner the Bahamian people are watching, and what a coincidence the police showing up at the residence, and they still did not state the reason for them being there in the first place, other than retaliation. The system is so corrupt that the police don't even need a legitimate reason for obtaining a search warrant from our corrupt judicial system.

TalRussell 4 days, 21 hours ago

Comrades, building trust between the (CoP) and the Popoulaces'....is essential, if the CoP-is to meet with success. -- Yes?

ThisIsOurs 4 days, 17 hours ago

Is this the gentleman who was killed in a collision with an SUV driven by a senior officer of the court?

Not sure. If so they are making this ten times worse. How long does it really take to come to a conclusion on a road accident? Especially one with all this attention. If this is how the new commissioner intends to "change" the force, I see failure in the future and Anthony Rolle promoted to commissioner, seemingly why the chess piece was set up.

People arent necessarily impressed with good pronunciation of words, its certainly better than bad pronunciation, but some substance, positive forward movement, change and results have to be seen under the "polit-ness"

ExposedU2C 4 days, 12 hours ago

Newly appointed Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles has pledged to uphold high standards of conduct among officers.

Our new Commissioner does what she is told to do by the violent criminal thugs who have gained control of our RBPF and RBDF. Even Munroe and Davis now know they too must do as they are told by these violent criminal thugs within our RBPF and RBDF, or else!

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