Commissioner Gets Ready For Retirement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In a matter of hours, the Royal Bahamas Police Force will have a new commander in chief as Commissioner Paul Rolle gets ready to retire. Deputy Commissioner Clayton Fernander will become the next commissioner.

Rolle says as of his time as commissioner, that he hopes to leave behind a legacy of transformational leadership.

Paul Rolle became the 8th Bahamian Police Commissioner in 2020 and says he’s stayed the course.

Rolle embarking on a mission to strengthen the force in every aspect of policing through what he calls a transformational style of leadership.

It’s what he says he believe is helping to make a meaningful difference in fighting crime – a difference he says is necessary, in a tide of crime that seemingly continues to rise.

Rolle who joined the force in 1983, later became the officer in charge of the Central Detective Unit and launched the first-ever cybercrime unit.

As commander of CDU, Rolle brought over 2400 successful cases before the Supreme Court.

He has written and implemented restructuring policies while renovating and relocating essential infrastructure.

But, now that his time is winding down, Commissioner Rolle is doubling down on his support for his successor – his deputy, Clayton Fernander, and defends his assessment of other senior officers.

And now Commissioner Rolle gets ready to take up a new post – Bahamian Ambassador to the International Maritime Organization in London.

The Bahamas was elected to the executive council – the IMO’s leadership organ, where there is currently no Bahamian representation.

But with Rolle about to take his seat, with 14 years of industry experience serving as International Maritime Liaison Officer since 2008, the commissioner says he is ready.

Rolle says he intends to take that same transformational leadership to his new role as he believes it has helped to leave the force better than he met it.

His retirement now making way for the 9th Bahamian commissioner, who takes the reins on Tuesday, July 5th.