By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Shanta Knowles acknowledged yesterday that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is facing a significant manpower shortage, estimating that an additional 2,000 officers are needed to effectively police the nation.

“We do believe that we have a serious manpower shortage in our organisation,” Commissioner Knowles said during a press conference. “But let me tell you how we are managing.

“We are managing because the officers are dedicated. They come to work with the spirit to give good service and that is how we are managing. The grace of God is bringing them out to work, and I am grateful for every one of them that come out to work on the 24-hour shifts that we have.”

The RBPF started the year with around 2,656 officers, but that number has since declined due to retirements and resignations. “We wish them all the best,” she added. “But we believe that if we can get another 2,000 officers to police the entire Commonwealth, we would be in good standing.”

To help address the gap, Commissioner Knowles said 105 recruits are currently in training and expected to graduate in November. A second cohort of about 100 recruits is expected to follow shortly thereafter. “Our numbers are small, but the dedication of our officers is certainly what speaks for us,” she said.

Concerns about staffing levels within the RBPF are long-standing. Earlier this year, Commissioner Knowles conceded that the force was stretched thin, particularly in New Providence and the Family Islands, where officers routinely work extended 12- to 24-hour shifts.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has also described the shortage as a persistent issue, pointing earlier this year to a shortfall of about 900 officers when the Davis administration came to office in 2021. He attributed the deficit to the previous administration’s failure to maintain consistent recruitment amid attrition from retirements, dismissals, resignations, and deaths.

A 2021 manpower audit conducted by the Ministry of National Security’s Research and Development Section revealed that the RBPF was not only understaffed at the constable level but also severely “top-heavy” in its leadership ranks. The audit found that while the force had 837 constables, it needed at least 791 more to adequately protect Bahamians. At the same time, it had an excess of senior officers, with researchers concluding there was “no conceptual transfer of knowledge” occurring at the top levels to strengthen the organisation.

“Despite the force ebbing top-heavy, very little, if any, of the strength in numbers is translating into evidence-based leadership,” the report noted, calling for better alignment between rank and responsibility.

The audit harshly criticised a 2017 promotional exercise—conducted just days before the general election under then-Commissioner Ellison Greenslade—which researchers said lacked transparency and breached police policy. Officers interviewed for promotion reportedly faced superficial questions or none at all. One officer recalled being asked only if his shoes were clean; another said she was asked about her mother’s health before being dismissed.

Researchers warned that promotions during that exercise may have been unfair, with no clear criteria or performance-based assessments. They also noted that such practices damaged morale among junior officers and eroded confidence in leadership.

Between 2011 and 2017, the number of chief superintendents grew by 2,200 per cent, while the number of superintendents more than tripled—from 33 to 103. At the same time, intelligence-gathering operations and frontline policing suffered, as constables faced heightened risks with reduced support and longer hours.

The audit also highlighted attrition as an ongoing issue. Between January 2016 and September 2017, 145 junior officers exited the force. That figure was expected to rise as more approached retirement.

Commissioner Knowles, who assumed the top post with an agenda of accountability and reform, has emphasised her commitment to restoring confidence in the RBPF and strengthening its operational capacity.

“We are working through the challenges,” she said yesterday. “But our officers continue to show up. They are committed, and they are the backbone of this organisation.”