The largest group of Recruit Police Constables starts their official training on Friday, January 31, 2020, in the Bahamas after a successful competency-based interview assessment in late December 2019.
The Recruits who will be trained at the Police Training College, located in Grand Bahama, will undergo intense training for six months and gain the skills and attitudes needed to function competently as Police Constables in General Beat and Patrol duties, be introduced to the history, mission and organisation of policing, inculcate habits of fitness and safety, develop personal character and mental fitness, to name a few.
Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting said, “I was delighted to swear in 19 recruits to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force on the January 29th, 2020. The swearing-in through taking the oath, marks the start of a career in the public service, serving and protecting the communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In spending time with the recruits, I wished them well on their initial training with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and I look forward to their return at the end of their training. I am sure they will represent the Force and themselves with pride”.
In October 2019, the Government committed $US500,000.00 for a National Campaign to recruit twenty new Police Constables, following the increase in fire-arm related crimes on the Islands of Providenciales and Grand Turk.
Commissioner Botting said, “All of the Officers I swore in were recruited from within the Turks and Caicos Islands, some having previous experience as a District Constable with the Force. I am grateful to the Government for their support and commitment to increasing the number of Police Officers for the Force, this will make a real difference as we work to keep the Turks and Caicos safe and secure. The Force is committed to fighting serious crime and dealing with those who are seeking to cause the most harm to our communities and these officers will assist in that work”.
Sergeant Damien Mitchell of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is one of the instructors assigned to the 19 recruits who will complete their training in August 2020 and return to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force to take up duties.