AN ADVERT seeking experienced police officers to join the Royal TCI Police Force has attracted more than 2,000 applicants from across the region.
Commissioner of Police James Smith shared this news during a press conference at the police headquarters in Providenciales on Thursday, April 27.
He spoke about the recruitment process after one media house alleged that the force had recently recruited dozens of officers from Jamaica.
Commissioner Smith said the jobs were advertised across the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Caribbean, and no one has been recruited yet.
He explained that the force is looking for qualified police officers who are ready to go straight to work; whether from Turks and Caicos Islands or any other country.
“We are at the point now where we are beginning to shortlist these applicants to get the very best into the force.
“Not only does that mean we can get our boots on the ground quickly with experienced individuals, that means that we do not have the financial burden and problem of finding somewhere to house them, somewhere to train them and having to worry about the long training period,” he said.
He added that it takes about two years to train police officers and an even longer period to train a marine branch officer.
The Commissioner said: “You first get the basic skills, then you get the specialist skills which you will need to be out on the water in dangerous conditions. It is not an easy business.
“My push is to get the best people as quickly as possible, but completely in line with the TCI constitution which says that we will take the best people for the job.”
