Justice
Police Reform & Solutions !
Restoring Trust. Ensuring Transparency. Protecting Every Life.
The foundation of a strong Bahamas is the rule of law.We understand that the police force is under immense stress and danger and we thank them every day for risking their lives and safetey for us !
However, the integrity of our legal system is currently undermined by a cycle of police-involved fatalities, extrajudicial actions, and a profound lack of timely accountability.
At Build Back Bahamas, we believe that “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.” We are committed to a comprehensive reform that transitions our policing from a culture of force to a standard of humane service .
The Faces of the Movement: Cases Demanding Justice
The following cases represent a systemic failure that has left families grieving and the public demanding answers. We honor their names by fighting for reform.
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Deangelo Evans (2018): Killed at just 20 years old. Despite a Coroner’s Jury ruling his death as homicide by manslaughter, officers only recently faced trial after years of systemic delay.
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Azario Major (2021): A 31-year-old fatally shot by police. Despite a ruling of unlawful killing, his trial has been pushed to 2026, leaving his family in a state of suspended grief.
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Gino Finley Jr. (2017): A 15-year-old life cut short. The case highlights the agonizingly slow pace of the Bahamian justice system, with charges appearing only years after the incident.
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Valentino Johnson (2023): His death remains a flashpoint for reform after officers reportedly failed to appear for court proceedings, showing a blatant disregard for judicial oversight.
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Earnest Foreste: Part of a growing list of cases where Coroner findings of unlawful killing remain in limbo, awaiting a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Faces of the Movement: Cases Demanding Justice
1. Deangelo Evans (2018)
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The Incident: On May 27, 2018, 20-year-old Deangelo Evans was fatally shot by police in Masons Addition. While police claimed he was armed, numerous eyewitnesses testified that he was unarmed and running away when shot.
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Systemic Failure: It took five years for a Coroner’s Jury to reach a verdict of “Homicide by Manslaughter” (August 2023). Following the verdict, the officers sought to stay the prosecution, arguing that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had initially told the Commissioner of Police no charges would be filed. This internal back-and-forth caused years of unnecessary delay.
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Reference: Supreme Court Decision on Prosecution Stay (2025) | The Tribune: Officers Face Trial for Evans Death
2. Azario Major (2021)
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The Incident: Azario Major, 31, was killed outside a business on Fire Trail Road in December 2021. He was shot multiple times by four officers while inside his vehicle.
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Systemic Failure: In May 2023, the Coroner’s Jury returned a verdict of “unlawful killing.” Despite this, the officers were not immediately charged in the criminal courts. The trial is currently set for 2026, meaning the family will have waited nearly five years for a criminal court to hear the evidence that a jury already deemed unlawful.
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Reference: Eyewitness News: Azario Major Verdict | The Tribune: Major Family Seeking Justice
3. Gino Finley Jr. (2017)
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The Incident: At just 15 years old, Gino Finley Jr. was shot and killed by police in June 2017.
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Systemic Failure: This case is a prime example of “Justice by Exhaustion.” It took several years for the case to move through the Coroner’s Court and for an officer to finally be charged with manslaughter. The delay in charging an officer for the death of a minor severely eroded community trust in the RBPF’s ability to police itself.
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Reference: The Tribune: Officer Charged in Finley Death
The Faces of the Movement: Cases Demanding Justice
4. Valentino Johnson (2023)
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The Incident: Valentino Johnson was killed during a police operation in 2023.
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Systemic Failure: During the subsequent legal proceedings, the case faced a “blue wall of silence” and procedural obstruction. Reports indicated that involved officers failed to appear for court dates, leading to multiple adjournments. This blatant disregard for the summons of the Coroner’s Court highlights a culture where officers feel they are above the judicial process.
5. Earnest Foreste (and many others)
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The Situation: Earnest Foreste’s case is representative of the “DPP Bottleneck.” In cases where a Coroner’s Jury finds a killing to be unlawful or homicide by manslaughter, the file is sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Systemic Failure: There is currently no statutory timeline requiring the DPP to act on these findings. As a result, cases like Foreste’s remain “under review” for years, leaving officers on the force and families without closure.
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Reference: Our News: Fate of 14 Officers in Limbo
The Tourist Crisis: A Global Spotlight
The recent tragic killing of a visitor to our shores has signaled a breaking point. When the safety of our guests is compromised by the same lack of oversight that affects our citizens, it threatens our national reputation, our primary economy, and our international standing. Safety must be a guarantee for all who stand on Bahamian soil.
Police Reform Solutions !
Strategic Policy Solutions
I. Institutional Oversight
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Independent Civilian Oversight Board (ICOB): Limit the RBPF’s power to investigate itself. We propose a fully funded, civilian-led body with the power to subpoena evidence and recommend direct criminal charges.
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Office of the Special Prosecutor: Establish a permanent, independent prosecutor dedicated solely to police brutality and deaths in custody to eliminate the “bottleneck” at the DPP’s office.
II. Technological Accountability
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Mandatory Body-Worn Cameras (BWC): Universal deployment with strict legal presumptions. If a camera is “malfunctioning” or turned off during a fatal encounter, the legal burden of proof shifts to the officer.
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The 72-Hour Transparency Rule: Require the public release of unedited body camera footage in all fatal incidents within three days to prevent “narrative shaping” and maintain public trust.
III. Procedural & Judicial Reform
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The “Fast-Track” Justice Protocol: Implement statutory limits requiring investigations to conclude in 60 days and trials to commence within 12 months for all state-involved fatalities.
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Judicial Enforcement of Attendance: Legally mandate that any officer involved in a shooting or death in custody must attend all court and coroner proceedings or face immediate contempt of court charges and suspension without pay.
IV. Modern Policing Standards
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De-escalation First Policy: A total overhaul of the Use-of-Force manual. Lethal force must be the absolute last resort, with non-lethal intervention and psychological de-escalation prioritized by law.
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National Transparency Dashboard: An online, public database tracking every police-involved shooting, the officers involved, the status of the investigation, and the final judicial outcome.
The Path Forward
The pattern is clear: delayed prosecutions, ignored coroner rulings, and a lack of transparency. Build Back Bahamas proposes a transition toward Service-Based Policing. We must move away from the “Force” and toward a partnership with the community.
“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable and how it holds its most powerful to account.”
Next Steps
To make this reform a reality, we need YOUR support. Join our news letter to keep up to date on community projects and policy updates that affect your life .
We Love
Our Police !
Strengthening community security with love !
