By Earyel Bowleg

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Shanta Knowles believes concerns about police brutality are sometimes exaggerated, though she acknowledged that instances of excessive force sometimes do occur.

Speaking on Our TV’s On The Record with Jerome Sawyer on Thursday night, Commissioner Knowles said police must use “just enough force” to detain someone. She noted that officers receive ongoing training to understand justifiable force’s limits.

“Sometimes, I do believe that people sensationalise the actions of police officers,” she said. “We are required to use just enough force to detain someone. If someone forcefully resists, we are required to subdue that person without using excessive force.”

 She said officers are regularly reminded of the appropriate use of force and handling firearms.

 “We continue to talk to our officers on every shift,” she said. “We educate them on justifiable force, the use of firearms, and policies. If they push the boundaries, they risk violating both our policies and the laws of the land.”

 Nonetheless, Commissioner Knowles said some people are abusive toward officers and expect them to be “superhuman.” She stressed that officers come from the same communities as the public and share similar values.

 She urged mutual respect, highlighting that officers risk their lives daily and hope to return home to their families safely. She encouraged the public to support officers in difficult situations rather than standing by or recording incidents.

 Referring to a recent viral video, she said: “There was a video a few weeks ago of two officers trying to detain a mentally ill man. Instead of helping, people were laughing and recording. Those officers could have been injured. That man could have been injured. It tells us how insensitive some of us are in our community.”

 She called on officers to engage more with the public, get out of their stations and vehicles, and lead by example.

 She recalled walking through Bain Town on Wednesday, where she met a grieving mother. “As I ascended her stairs, she came down and embraced me,” she said. “She told me, ‘I’m not mad at you all.’ And I said to her, ‘We are not your enemies.’”

 The woman was Beverly Lee-Rolle, the mother of Deangelo Evans, a 20-year-old killed by police in 2018. Mrs Lee-Rolle confirmed to The Tribune that she had spoken with the commissioner.

 “It was very relaxing,” she said on Friday. “I’m glad I could speak with more ease. When the first commissioner spoke with me, I was much angrier. When she talked on Wednesday, there was no anger. It was more of a peaceful talk, and she even had the priest pray for me. It took a lot of relief off.”

 Commissioner Knowles also revealed that a new Inspection Review Branch has been established.

 “We have already started inspecting stations, and integrity and ethics training has begun,” she said. “We have completed New Providence and Eleuthera. This week, we’re in Exuma and Grand Bahama, then moving to the other Family Islands.”

 She added: “We will continue to educate officers on ethics and policies and encourage them not to violate our policies — or more importantly, the law.”