In commemoration of the 165th anniversary of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, three leading United States law enforcement officials paid a courtesy call on Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson at Police Headquarters on Thursday, March 30th.
William J Walker is the Deputy Assistant Administrator, United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Diversion Control; Clarence Edwards is president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); and Special Agent Wayde Baldwin is assigned to the United States Embassy.
Commissioner Farquharson gave them plaques bearing the emblem of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He was presented with the DEA Special Medal.
“They are very good friends of the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” said Mr Farquharson.
NOBLE was founded in September 1976 in Washington DC, by some 60 black, high ranking, law enforcement executives brought together by the Department of Justice in an effort to address high crime rates in black areas of American cities.
NOBLE, of which Commissioner Farquharson is a member, currently has about 3,500 members at the local, state and federal levels.
“One of the things we do,” said Mr. Edwards, “is mentor young special agents and young police officers so that they will know the way and that they will provide quality law enforcement to all of America and the Caribbean, particularly in those cities where black populations are in a majority.
“There have always been linkages between blacks in America and Bahamians and with the Royal Bahamas Police Force becoming a part of NOBLE, we feel is just a continuation of that process.”
Mr. Walker’s association with the Bahamas police intensified in 1987 when he assigned to Nassau. In 1991 he was transferred to Freeport where he became the first resident agent for the DEA. He is a member of NOBLE.
“I have a lot of sand in my shoes,” he quipped. “The first thing I did when I got back was to have some crack conch.
“I am absolutely honored to be here to help celebrate the 165th anniversary of all the pride and traditions of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
“The DEA works very closely with the Royal Bahamas Police Force. We have a long standing relationship.”
Special Agent Baldwin said his tour of duty in the Bahamas has “been a wonderful experience. The Bahamian police force is probably the best police force I have worked with. I really enjoyed it.”
