In a landmark move to strengthen the Barbados Police Service’s top leadership structure just days after the historic swearing-in of the island nation’s first female police commissioner, five senior officers have been formally appointed to key command positions. The new appointments, which went into effect this past Friday, follow closely on the heels of Sonia Boyce’s inauguration as Commissioner of Police, marking a new era for the TBPS.
At a formal ceremony held at Police Headquarters, Commissioner Boyce presented official letters of appointment to the newly promoted leadership team. Barry Hunte and Adrian Broomes received confirmation as Deputy Commissioners, while Stephen Herbert, David Welch and John Boyce were formally named Assistant Commissioners.
Opening the ceremony, Boyce described the moment as “a joyous morning”, noting that most of the appointed officers had already been serving in acting capacities for some time, proving their competence in the roles. In her address to the new senior command, the commissioner emphasized that effective policing requires collective effort rather than individual leadership. “The Barbados Police Service is not a one woman or one man show,” she stated, urging the entire team to move forward “hand in hand” to drive progress across the organization. Boyce also laid out the leadership’s core long-term goal: to continue transforming the TBPS into a law enforcement agency that ranks not only among the finest in the Caribbean region, but among the most effective in the world.
Each new appointee brings a unique set of experience and expertise to the senior command. Deputy Commissioner Hunte has an extensive track record of senior leadership within the TBPS, including previous oversight of the service’s special operations and management divisions. He has earned widespread recognition across the service for his focus on strengthening leadership standards, improving organizational performance, leading successful change management initiatives, and delivering consistent results in executing the TBPS’s core policing strategy.
Deputy Broomes, for his part, has built his career around key roles in disaster response and inter-agency coordination, and is currently continuing advanced training in executive leadership. Notably, Broomes was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony, as he is currently overseas completing a specialized police executive training course.
The three newly appointed Assistant Commissioners also oversee distinct, critical portfolios: Herbert takes responsibility for human resources and administration, with a core focus on expanding workforce development, rolling out strategic training programs, and strengthening collaboration between the TBPS and other government agencies. Welch leads change management and technology services, tasked with modernizing the force’s digital capabilities and driving organizational evolution. John Boyce, who already has extensive experience in senior command, takes charge of the TBPS’s crime-fighting operations.
The reshuffle and formalization of senior command comes as the TBPS enters a new period of renewal under its first female leader, setting the foundation for the service’s planned modernization and excellence efforts in the coming years.