The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force is partnering with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association to strengthen policing practices through international training, professional exchanges and knowledge-sharing.

The partnership was formalised yesterday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two organisations, establishing a framework for collaboration in areas including community policing, youth engagement, leadership development and responses to people affected by violence and trauma.

National Security Minister Myles Laroda said the agreement would allow both organisations to share their experiences, policing tactics and expertise while identifying ways to improve public safety.

“This part of the memorandum deals with a collaboration on policing styles, sharing their experience with us. We are sharing our experience with them, particular policing tactics, equipment, and just with a better view, collaboration for safer communities,” he said.

Mr Laroda said the agreement connected international cooperation with the responsibility of ensuring officers were better prepared to serve the public.

“When a person calls the police for help, that call often comes at one of the most difficult moments of their life. Family may be frightened. A young person may be in danger. Someone may simply need reassurance that help is coming. At that moment, what counts is the officer who answers their judgment, their preparation, and their ability to respond with both confidence and compassion,” he said.

He said the partnership would provide opportunities to strengthen leadership, improve policing practices and build closer relationships with the communities officers serve.

Mr Laroda also highlighted the MOU's focus on community policing, youth engagement and compassionate responses to people experiencing violence and trauma, saying public trust was built through everyday interactions between officers and residents.

Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said the agreement would allow experienced officers to share their knowledge while helping develop the next generation of police leaders.

She said the Royal Bahamas Police Force had officers whose decades of service had given them valuable experience and insight, which should be passed on to strengthen the institution.

“This memorandum of understanding gives the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association a framework to learn together and strengthen our professional capabilities,” she said.

Commissioner Knowles said the partnership would benefit officers at every stage of their careers, from young constables developing confidence to supervisors learning to lead and experienced officers adapting to new demands.

She urged officers participating in the exchanges to share what they learned with their colleagues so the benefits would extend throughout the force and ultimately improve public service.

The commissioner also thanked the United States Embassy and the Rhode Island National Guard for helping facilitate the partnership.

Kimberley Furnish, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, welcomed the agreement, describing the existing relationship between the Rhode Island National Guard and The Bahamas as a strong and longstanding partnership.

She said the relationship had spanned more than 20 years and expressed confidence that extending the programme to include police cooperation would produce similar benefits.

Ms Furnish also acknowledged the contributions of the embassy, the National Guard and local officials in developing the partnership.