Former Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest yesterday expressed surprise that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has reinstated the rank of chief superintendent, after it was previously recommended that the force phase it, and others, out.
"In fact, the current commissioner (Ellison Greenslade) at the time, was one of the resource persons for that review," Turnquest said when contacted for comment.
"So I'm surprised that he would be involved in bringing back these positions, because he was very intimate in getting rid of them."
Nearly 600 RBDF officers were promoted on Tuesday, according to documents obtained by The Nassau Guardian.
The documents state that the promotions were made in accordance with Article 119 of the constitution.
Two hundred and eleven senior officers were promoted and 382 contracted officers were promoted, the documents reveal.
Of the contracted workers, 163 corporals rose to the rank of sergeant and 219 constables were promoted to corporal.
Within the senior ranks, 12 superintendents were promoted to the rank of chief superintendent, including Ken Strachan of the Firearms Tracing Unit, Clayton Fernander of the Southern Division, Ashton Greenslade of the Southeastern Division, Samuel Butler of the Drug Enforcement Unit, Paul Rolle of the Central Detective Unit and Theophilus Cunningham of the Northeastern Division.
Seventeen officers were promoted from assistant superintendent to superintendent including B.K. Bonamy Jr., Solomon Cash and Craig Stubbs; 23 were promoted from assistant superintendent to acting superintendent; 41 to assistant superintendent from inspector; 34 to acting assistant superintendent from inspector; 34 to inspector from sergeant, and 49 to acting inspector from sergeant.
The documents also show that Chief Inspector Ednol Cunningham of the Security Intelligence Branch and the Office of the Prime Minister was promoted to assistant superintendent.
The Guardian also understands that Superintendent Stephen Dean, of the Urban Renewal program and Public affairs section, was promoted to assistant commissioner of police.
The promotions took effect October 1.
Greenslade signed the documents, dated October 28.

Too many chiefs
Turnquest maintained during his tenure that the police force had too many senior ranks. He reiterated that concern when interviewed.
"When the positions of chief inspector and chief superintendent were taken out, it was to flatten the organization so that there was an inspector, an assistant superintendent, a superintendent, then an assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner and commissioner," he said.
"Part of it was to ensure that there weren't too many layers of positions. You know every time you have for example, someone of a higher rank, he needs someone to supervise."
He said that, in 1999, a report was conducted that looked in the strategic development of the police force.
The report, conducted by CDR International, recommended that the ranks of senior deputy commissioner, senior assistant commissioner, chief superintendent, deputy superintendent and chief inspector be phased out.

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