The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TWO high-profile disciplinary cases involving police officers — the East Street South police station “stool incident” and an alleged bribery attempt involving a tourist — remain unresolved months after the officers were interdicted and arraigned before the police force’s Tribunal.

Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said both matters are still pending before the Tribunal, with hearing dates set but no final determination yet made.

“As it relates to the incident that occurred at the East Street South police station, we have two officers who were arraigned before the Tribunal and were interdicted, so that matter is presently before the Tribunal for trial,” Commissioner Knowles said, adding that no further progress has been reported.

The East Street South incident sparked national outrage in July 2025 after a video circulated widely online showing a distressed, half-naked Caucasian woman defecating on the floor of the station after repeatedly pleading to use a restroom.

Off-camera voices, believed to be police officers, could be heard mocking and taunting her in the footage, which quickly spread across social media and triggered an internal investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Authorities later confirmed that two officers connected to the incident were placed on interdiction, removing them from active duty while disciplinary proceedings moved forward.

Months later, however, there has been no public update on when the Tribunal will begin hearing the case or when a decision might be reached.

A second controversy involving police officers also remains before the Tribunal.

The matter arose earlier this year after a video posted to TikTok appeared to show an officer attempting to solicit a bribe from a tourist during a roadblock near St Matthew’s Anglican Church off Shirley Street on New Providence.

The tourist, who was visiting from Miami on a cruise, recorded the encounter and claimed the officer suggested the situation could be “worked out” rather than issuing a traffic citation.

Two officers connected to that incident were also arraigned before the Tribunal and placed on interdiction pending disciplinary proceedings.

“The second matter involving a tourist, which occurred recently with two of our younger officers, those officers have also been arraigned before the Tribunal and placed on interdiction, and now their matter will be heard before the Tribunal,” Commissioner Knowles said.

She said she could not say when hearings in either case would begin or when the Tribunal might reach a conclusion.

Commissioner Knowles explained that the Tribunal functions in a manner similar to a court, with officers formally arraigned and given dates to return for the start of proceedings. She said once the Tribunal completes its deliberations, it submits recommendations to the commissioner, who then decides what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken.