Former senior Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) officer Fitz Bailey has officially been appointed Commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), securing a three-year contract.
Bailey’s appointment follows an open recruitment process overseen by the Office of the Governor, which included an interview panel chaired by Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and consultations with Premier Charles Washington Misick. The Governor’s office described the move as a step toward strengthening public trust, law enforcement leadership, and community safety across the British Overseas Territory.
Prior to this permanent appointment, Bailey had been serving as Acting Commissioner for several months. He previously held the role of Deputy Police Commissioner in Turks and Caicos, following a distinguished four-decade-long career in Jamaica where he retired as Deputy Commissioner of Police in the JCF.
One of the most notable cases under his leadership was the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell and her mother, Toshyna Patterson, in September 2023. The case garnered national attention due to its brutality and the involvement of multiple suspects, including U.S. Navy petty officer Leoda Bradshaw, who was charged with orchestrating the crime. Bailey described the investigation as one of the most painful in recent times, emphasizing the professionalism and dedication of the investigative team.
The appointment comes at a critical time for the territory, which has seen periodic surges in violent crime, including a string of murders linked in part to foreign criminal networks. Authorities had previously named Jamaican gang elements as contributors to rising violence in the islands.
With Fitz Bailey now formally at the helm, the government is signaling a renewed effort to tackle crime and bolster the rule of law across the archipelago.
