Commissioner to Retire This Year

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle says he will retire sometime this year. Rolle, who took charge of the force at the start of the pandemic, says he spoke to members of his leadership team and will meet with the Prime Minister soon.

Jared Higgs tells us more.

Rolle was asked about his future plans on the sidelines of a police event at a local nursing home.

His comments on his future come a week after Deputy Commissioner Clayton Fernander Acted as Commissioner.

Rolle was appointed Commissioner on March 30th, 2020, just two weeks into the pandemic.

His leadership was marked in part by the enforcement of pandemic rules meant to prevent the spread of the covid-19 virus, but some criticized it as being harsh on ordinary Bahamians.

Another top issue during his time in charge was the prevalence and handling of police-involved shootings. Rolle was criticized for referring to the 13 people killed in police-involved shootings in 2021 as “idiots”.

Meanwhile, four officers were charged for a police-involved killing that took place in December 2021.

Responding to questions from reporters about when he may vacate the post, Rolle says he already had a conversation with the force’s leadership.

Rolle succeeded Anthony Ferguson as Commissioner when he took office in 2020.

In his speech at his swearing-in, Rolle revealed that he considered retiring from the police force after only being promoted twice in 15 years, while other officers were promoted three and four times in five years. He says he was encouraged to stay on by his wife.