The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Myles Laroda yesterday defended the vetting process for recently promoted police officers and the composition of the promotions board, amid questions over officers linked to court cases and a police bribery scandal.

Mr Laroda said Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles had assured him that every officer promoted underwent checks by the force's complaints and corruption units before being approved.

“First of all, there was a promotion exercise of 800, I think, 31 regular offices, 550 reserves,” he said.

“I’m advised by the commissioner of police that every one of those officers went through police complaints and corruption and were all cleared for promotion.”

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

Mr Laroda’s comments come amid scrutiny over the promotion of Jerone Thompson 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 rebuked Mr Thompson for kneeling on a man's neck, prompting opposition calls for greater scrutiny of how police promotions are decided.

Mr Thompson was among approximately 1,300 officers promoted to ranks ranging from corporal to chief superintendent.

Asked what message such promotions send to the public, particularly when taxpayers have had to bear the cost of damages arising from officers' conduct, Mr Laroda reiterated that all promoted officers had been cleared.

Opposition leader Michael Pintard has previously called for greater transparency in the promotion process, saying cases in which officers have harmed members of the public or cost the government money should be examined and considered before promotions are granted.

Questions have also emerged over the composition of the police promotions board following an Eyewitness News report that Superintendent Terico Sweeting, a key prosecution witness in a bribery case, was among its members.

The Nassau Guardian reported in February 2026 that Mr Sweeting had admitted receiving $10,000 in connection with the matter and had been granted immunity from prosecution.

Former Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson, lawyer Bjorn Ferguson and Sergeant 3726 Deangelo Rolle were charged in connection with the 2025 bribery scandal.

Mr Johnson has also been accused of involvement in the alleged theft of $90,000, reportedly part of $1.475m taken during an airport bank security heist while the funds were in police custody.

Responding to questions about the promotions board, Mr Laroda rejected suggestions that officers facing criminal charges had participated in the process.

He challenged a reporter's reference to Mr Sweeting's “confession to being part of such a major crime”, questioning whether that characterisation was accurate.

When the reporter clarified that the matter was alleged, Mr Laroda cautioned against the wording of the question.

“Be careful of how you word these. That issue was also raised. No officer who had an issue with being charged or no charged officer sat on the tribunal.”

Mr Laroda had previously defended the promotion exercise, saying officers deserved recognition for their service.