The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Myles Laroda has defended the promotion of about 1,300 Royal Bahamas Police Force officers, saying they deserved to be recognised for their service.

“Where you have officers who put their life on the line every day to keep our citizens safe, you know that is a price that the government is prepared to pay,” he said,

Mr Laroda acknowledged the scale of the promotion exercise but said some deserving officers may not have been included in this round. He added that more officers could be promoted later in the current term.

He was unable to provide a price tag for the promotion exercise.

Last week, about 1,300 officers were promoted in an exercise Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said reflected the force’s commitment to recognising merit, professionalism and dedicated service across all ranks.

Commissioner Knowles said the promotions included 800 regular officers and 500 reserve officers. She could not say whether it was the largest promotion exercise in the force’s history.

The promotions ranged from corporal to chief superintendent for both regular and reserve officers.

In a message to the officers, Commissioner Knowles thanked them for their hard work, dedication and service.

The promotion list has not been made public, and some appointments have raised questions because of past lawsuits involving officers who were promoted.

Mr Laroda did not speak to recent controversy surrounding the promotion of Jerone Thompson, who was moved from inspector to assistant superintendent despite a court ruling involving his conduct that resulted in a $103,000 damages award against the government.

The Court of Appeal had also rebuked Mr Thompson for kneeling on a man’s neck, prompting opposition calls for greater scrutiny of police promotion decisions.Speaking generally, Opposition leader Michael Pintard has called for cases involving officers who had harmed members of the public or cost the government money should be examined and considered before promotions are granted.

Mr Pintard said his party had long raised concerns about bias in police promotions.