By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SEVENTEEN Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) officers graduated from the Domestic Violence Facilitators Certification Course on Friday in a ceremony at the University of The Bahamas’ American Corner.

The programme was coordinated by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in collaboration with the US Embassy.

Inspector Jackeria Evans said: “We know about domestic violence, we deal with it almost on a daily basis. But it turns out we didn’t fully grasp the various forms it takes, nor the long-term impact it has on victims.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Chaswell Hanna said: “Training is the backbone of modern policing. In 2024 alone, we have trained 721 police officers and this course was not an automatic pass. The officers had to meet standards and work hard to get here.”

ACP Janet McKenzie added: “This training is not just about enforcement; it’s about empathy, prevention, and empowering survivors.”

The programme covered areas such as trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, safety planning, and case management. Officers were also trained to recognise and address the psychological and financial aspects of domestic violence, often overlooked in traditional law enforcement practices.