Editorial – The shame of corruption | Bahamas Daily

The Bahamas has a big problem. The integrity of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is at an all-time low.
A senior police officer who is on “paid leave” has sparked a growing controversy, with the public raising a series of questions about the officers’ alleged corruption and collusion in a number of homicides.
We are sure that former commissioners such as the late Sarathil Thompson and the late Bernard Bonami would be ashamed at the corruption that exists in the police force today. Indeed, former commissioner Elliston Greenslade, who had a good reputation as an upright officer and was accountable to the public during his tenure, must have been disgusted by the obvious lack of transparency.
The reputation of the police force suffered a major blow when an audio recording went viral on social media showing a senior officer negotiating a deal with a gang leader involved in a major robbery following the death of Michael Fox Jr. The series of events that followed cast an ominous light on the whole matter. Others murdered included Oral Roberts and Dino Smith.
After the recording was exposed, a young man involved in the case was shot at home, and the incident was widely reported by the media.
Then, government officials and Police Commissioner Clayton Fernand told the public that officers from Scotland Yard and the FBI would be involved. This was weeks ago. We do not know if these officers ever came to the Bahamas to investigate. Now Mr. Fernand has the audacity to announce that the police will not reveal any more to the public. This is simply unacceptable. It shakes what little trust the public has in the police.
Following the release of the recording, a gang member in Fox Hill died and his distraught mother accused the Royal Bahamas Police Force of being responsible for her son’s death. She claims it was an extrajudicial killing. She may or may not be right. Regardless, it should be properly investigated and shows a level of distrust in the police force within the community.
We understand that the Police Complaints Commission has received about 300 complaints against police officers for various crimes.
Since 1998, the National Crime Commission, chaired by retired Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall, has recommended that a civilian buffer should be established by statute between the police command and the Political Bureau, empowered to advise the police and government on policy and general issues within or outside the police force. This body should have an institutional link with the Police Commission and act as a clearing house for complaints from all levels of the police force and the public.
We have made it clear here before that we believe there are many good, impartial, independent people who can make judgments about wrongdoing.
The stigma of corruption hangs over the police institution. Because the integrity of the police force is essential to protecting the public, the government must act quickly to reassure the public that it has the ability and willingness to bring corrupt police officers to justice.