Corbishley Appointed New Police Commissioner
[Updated] Governor John Rankin has appointed Chief Superintendent Stephen Corbishley — who currently serves with Kent Police in the UK — to succeed Mr Michael DeSilva as Commissioner of Police of Bermuda.
“This appointment is made following an open recruitment process in line with international best practice for selecting Chief Officers. There were 6 candidates of whom 3 were Bermudian,” Government House said.
“Mr Corbishley, who currently serves with Kent Police in the UK, will be appointed for a 5 year term. He has a strong and deep level of skills and experience, having held command positions in both operational and crime divisions in UK policing.
“He has considerable strategic experience, including a secondment to the National Crime Agency, which will serve the Bermuda Police Service well as it adapts to emerging global security threats.
“Mr Corbishley is widely respected for his strong partnership approach to policing and his commitment to developing capability in the teams he leads. One of his priorities in taking up this Post will be to establish a programme for developing talented Bermuda Police officers with leadership potential to prepare them for senior command positions within the next 5 years.”
Governor Rankin said “I am confident that Chief Superintendent Corbishley will serve Bermuda well in his role as Commissioner of Police over the next five years, bringing to the job a wide breadth of skills and experience.
“Looking forward, I am equally confident that there is leadership potential within the ranks of the Bermuda Police Service and I have tasked the new Commissioner to identify and cultivate that talent with a view to strengthening the Service at all levels and creating a clear succession plan for posts at the senior command level.”
Update 6.24pm: Shadow Minister of National Security Michael Dunkley said, “The One Bermuda Alliance strongly believes that Bermuda should be for Bermudians first and foremost. The provision of hope, opportunity and empowerment at all levels of service is paramount.
“As a result it was our desire and expectation that another Bermudian would assume the rank of Commissioner of Police upon the retirement of Commissioner Michael Desilva.
“Whilst perhaps unfortunate that this did not happen the One Bermuda Alliance nonetheless respects the process which appears to have led the Governor, in his discretion, to form the view that at this point in time the talented officers who currently serve as Assistant Commissioners and Superintendents do not yet have a sufficient level of demonstrated experience and are therefore not yet ready to take on the role of Commissioner right now.
“It would be our hope that the new Commissioner will consider it a top priority to ensure that under his watch Bermudian Officers at every rank and level receive sufficient training and experience to enable them early consideration as future candidates to fill the two most senior roles.
Update May 31, 7.55pm: We asked Government House why the three Bermudian candidates were not deemed not suitable, and a spokesperson said, “It would not be appropriate to comment on the unsuccessful applicants for the job.”
We also asked why there was not succession plan already in place to replace Commissioner DeSilva, and Government House said, “The position was advertised under a transparent and competitive process in line with international best practice. The chosen candidate was considered to be best qualified for the position.
“The Bermuda Police Service has a well-established programme of professional and career development together with an Executive Leadership Development programme. The Governor remains confident that there is leadership potential within the Bermuda Police Service and he has tasked the new Commissioner to create a clear succession plan at the senior command level.”
“In the meantime we look forward to welcoming Commissoner Corbishley to Bermuda and wish him well in his new role.”
Now this should be good.
Limeys in Bermuda already. Broken dahn Bermudians.
Ole people
Need some new blood?
Irony.
After they gave us Penny Bean they felt that was enough.
before we all get bent out of shape I think the people of Bermuda should know first what the requirements were for the job
government house should publish them again
this is a step backwards for bermuda
“this is a step backwards for bermuda”
So is the removal of rights, from some people.
but, you support that, because you’re a hypocrite.
Am I the only one that thinks this is outrageous? I am certain that they could find a qualified Bermuda for the role but it sounds to me like that Governor is appointing friends and family. Cronyism at it best.
If this was the plp id agree with you. The simple fact is that most people dont realize we dont have enough qualified people to fill roles like this. I have no doubt however that numpty burt will be making some outrageous statement about this soon. Im getting tired of this already and theyre not even 1yr into their reign
I do not think that it is outrageous. We all want what is best for Bda and I think a highly qualified outsider makes the most sense, (less chatter about corruption and such). Are you sure he is a friend or family member of the governor? That would be a coincidence.
I would VEVER want the best Police officer in the Bermuda to guard my dog let alone a nation.
Hey Jim Bob, why didn’t a Bermudian apply? Obvious there is no one qualified!!! Suck it up. I’m a 4th Bermuda generation and proud.Cheers
Did you not see the part where they said 6 candidates applied and 3 were Bermudian? Surely you cannot be that slow.
And the three that applied were deemed unsuitably qualified for the post. Are you suggesting a Bermudian should’ve been appointed simply on the merit of being Bermudian? That would get us nowhere.
The Governor has de last say, are we to question his judgement?
Why does it seem like we are arguing in 1960?
First time I’ve heard a forth generation Bermudian use cheers in their vocabulary, I must get out more often.
Sorry bloke.
LOL
Yes, do get out more often and then tell us about the 4th gen Bermudians you hear using terms like ‘Irie’ ,’dreads’ and ‘later’ to name just a few.
Well we see you have’nt been out since de 70′s.
LMAO
You never said there was a time frame. Would you like more current examples to crush your lack of exposure ?
LMAO
” it sounds to me like that Governor is appointing friends and family. Cronyism at it best.”
LMFAO…just like de gubment!
Queue a comment from the government about qualified Bermudians in 3… 2… 1…
The PLP were elected on the platform of putting Bermudians First.. Sorry if that bothers you.
…and yet they’re letting in more foreigners than the OBA ever did.
The Governor has de last say, thats de colonoial order.
You bother me.
No bother mixitup, but Bermuda needs help, we can’t do it on are own. Sorry!
Isn’t hiring the best person for the job putting all Bermudians first when it comes to the safety of Bermuda?
“The PLP were elected on the platform of putting Bermudians First”
…and the very first thing they did was to remove marriage rights from some Bermudians.
Pathetic
The oba/UBP didn’t do squat for marriage rights for gays and the PLP told you what they were going to do. So suck it up.
Hello… Didn’t do a thing. And they were SILENT! But the PLP get blamed for doiing something, based on what the BERMUDIAN populace wanted, which was same sex partnerships (NOT MARRIAGE)..
Thank goodness for that. Hopefully he is not another freemason like most of the rest of the local senior officers. There is no obvious talent in the current crop of senior officers!
Many promoted due to their Masonic associations not ability!
Now that’s the damn truth.
I agree 101%
To be one is to know one.
“Hopefully he is not another freemason”
Hope he’s not religious either, they’re the worst!
Um they are religious, if you knew what their oaths and riturals are you would be enlightened.
Just sayin.
You’re the expert on religious nuttery , OJ…You’re admitting that you’re just like ‘them’.
LOL@OJ
And….here comes a stupid comment from the plp/trump overlords to drive their numpty base into a frenzy.
You mean by suggesting a Bermudian should have gotten the post? Yeah, what a Stupid comment that would be!
Mixitup for president!
Hey, you said it.
“.here comes a stupid comment from the plp/trump overlords to drive their numpty base into a frenzy.”
The exact same numpties who called for Born Bermudian Michael DeSilva to resign
Onion Juice……………….
Come on dood…………………………….
Well anything would be better then the current Commissioner of Police.
Amen!!
You have to say this is just what was needed.
Someone with global experience, who won’t be upset if he shakes things up.
Has to be better than someone with a certain passport.
Lol – So now what?! Now that you PLP haters own party member made the same statement that you were expecting Premier Burt to make! The OBA may FINALLY be getting it!! BERMUDIANS FIRST!
You are going to tell me that after 140 years of Police Service on this Island, that we have no one Born on this Soil ‘Qualified?’
Commissioner Desilva was in this post for almost a decade, you will tell me that he had no succession plan?
Piss on my foot and tell me its raining, go ahead.
Perhaps our Police force deserves the best leadership we can find.
After 140 years we still import dozens of police from the Caribbean. I never saw you whine about that, for some reason.
Yes, Bermudian youngsters, you will never be good enough to be the top cop, we need only the best which you are incapable of being. So don’t aspire to greatness, you’ll never make it on this 21 sq miles much less anywhere else in the world, give up now we need hewers of wood and drawers of water.
We got the best person for the job we could find. When it comes to our national security, why is that a problem.
Let’s face it. When it comes to any person filling any job whatsoever, there is a segment of our population that cannot stand diversity. They want one type of person only, and any other type of person automatically gets negative comments.
@ Question, then you haven’t been paying attention but nice try at race baiting..
“Piss on my foot and tell me its raining, go ahead.”
I’d rather pepper spray you and call you the felon that you are.
Yeah, we know your type…
I know ‘your type’ as well
Your type got voted out now go change the name again with the Milk man.
And you guys got voted in and are still tailing you the same way the other guys did. Whos the dummy in that scenario?
LOL, how pathetic.
Everything is political, everything is racist.
Bermudians, you’re immature.
SMH, I suggest you take your own advice since it was your statement & your statement alone that was race laden. You say something silly such as “I’d rather pepper spray you and call you the felon that you are.”, then you want to question people’s maturity & throw accusations of people being racist… Your hypocrisy (among other negative traits) is shining so bright at the moment.
“Your hypocrisy”
And yours…
It’s sad, but not unexpected, that you’d twist this around to serve your racist agenda.
Pathetic, as usual.
SMH, show me what I have written that you preceived as racist. You’ve made your statement & got called out on it, now accept it, reflect on it & change your ways for the better.
Of course you would….now walk to your bathrom mirror and repeat this.. “the problem really is me” 20 times.
Take your own advice. Itd be statistically correct
The problem is you, mixitup…the problem is you.
You need to drop your racist and homophobic rhetoric….just makes you look like another bigot….but that’s the plp way!
Lol – Somebody is feeling threatened and is having a mimi melt down… Just for the record, your relevance to me is zero, and I don’t answer to name calling from trolls.
But u just did lmao. Nobody is threatened by you mixitup lmao. God what a laugh.
You can’t stand diversity.
Well the last commissioner was totally useless
Should have been Antoine Daniels!
Dont you get it we are a Colony and de Govenor has de last say, so deal with it.
Just hope he does’nt order pepper spray or worst for a peaceful demonstration.
A peaceful demonstration wouldn’t require pepper spray.
Worse oj. Maybe teargas next time.
Or even worst, Police dogs.
Same S#!+ different day.
Learn to behave, OJ…then you won’t get pepper sprayed. LOL@OJ
Are you crazy! He’s Bermudian..
Rather ridiculous!
Bermuda is predominately BLACK.
What type of sensitivity and intellectual training has he successfully had in the recent past?
Whether the governor feels confident or not is not important.It is paramount that this new commissioner has been exposed to intelligent and meaningful training…..like Starbucks’ employees.
BERMUDIANS DO NOT WANT ANOTHER pepper spray fiasco, with no one from oba owning up to their foolishness and unintelligence. They were sure and true liars!!
The governor’s choice is a dark mark AGAINST “Born Bermudians” , who are smarter and more qualified in the policing arena than this appointed man.
Theres no black people in england all of a sudden or something?
“Bermuda is predominately BLACK”
Ok, so what does that mean? That a white man should not be made top cop?
“BERMUDIANS DO NOT WANT ANOTHER pepper spray fiasco, with no one from oba owning up to their foolishness and unintelligence”
The oba did not order per spraying of the protesters. The police officer in charge that day did. The current (born Bermudian) Commissioner of Police has confirmed that.
By “Born Bermudians” do you mean black Bermudians? Because Sir James Astwood (born Bermudian and former Chief Justice) was very clear that there is no legal distinction between a Bermudian by birth and a Bermudian by status.
“Bermuda is predominantly black”
Er, no. The woman from CURB, Lynn Whitfield, was on here telling us Bermuda is 50-55% black, 45-50% white, just this week.
So go and argue with her.
Are we including ‘paper’ Bermudians? because their population, is more than the Born White Bermudian (you know, when the immigration doors were opened to suppliment the minute ‘native’ white populace.) Considering that there was a giveaway a residency back then. Remove the paper Bermudian and you have a vastly majority Black population.
And guess what ? You’re a paper Bermudian too !
But you probably think you have that mystical qualification that specially defines you as the real thing.
Too bad most of them are too thick headed to get that. They r more “paper” tham most.
Bermudians , it is time to aim for INDEPENDENCE!!!
NOW!!!!!
@ STRAIGHTFORWARD, you looking to be the first in the unemployment line after independence?
You think that welfare sucker has a job now?
How about no…then we guys all be broke lmfao! shut up
A change is better than a rest ,”maybe.”
i can think of a few officers,black and white that could have taken this post.
Rankin needs to be recalled!
i think this is a good idea to have some one that is not local – at least he is qualified and it would not be and favoritism .
so its OK for the Bermudians to England and live off of the system but its not OK for this guy to come from the UK and work in BDA – They made David Burt Premier of Bermuda but he does not have any experience so get the hell out of here
why don’t you understand.
the job-market is a battlefield.
only those who are able and willing to go the extra mile , have a good education and the right ambition will survive.
regardless which job we are talking about , waiter , sales man or commissioner .
sex , race is not an argument.
just to say ” I am a born Bermudian ” might be an argument for employment within CS , but only in Bermuda.
open your eyes , nobody has to get a bonus because of his citizenship.
we have to get the best of the market , regardless of “born , sex or race .
Was the (24/12) elected government consulted?
Kent is one of the very best forces in the UK. If he can import even some of that modern good practiceit will be a good appointment.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say this blatant provocation was a deliberate attempt by the Limes to rid themselves of the Onions. Actuawelly, considering who the new Chief Justice is and the elected Gowernment’s response to that appointment, maybe it is. Undoubtedly Bermudians will continue to confound those who just don’t get it and reject independence whilst whining (wining – ed) all the way about outside interference – cause we’ve always wanted our Pound (many pounds in fact) Cake, not to mention a whole lot else. I sure hope Teresa and Boris can swallow as well as we folks.
Welcome Mr. Corbishley . I am sure you understand how many feel about you taking up a top post in Bermuda .We all are wondering when will a Bermudian be good enough for this job . It is hard to understand how Mr. DeSilva did not make this a top priority . Only a change in our present colonial status will address this issue .Other wise , there will always be a more qualified foreigner .
” I am sure you understand how many feel about you taking up a top post in Bermuda ”
Welcome Mr. Corbishley
To be blunt, the majority race in Bermuda hate people who look like you.
That is not true . Hate is a strong word . Mr. DeSilva was white , but he was a Bermudian . That’s all everyone is saying . When will we be good enough to run our own country ?
“When will we be good enough to run our own country ?”
When you mature and learn to accept others.
bermuda is known as one of the most racist and homophobic places on earth.
You seem to proud of that.
I don’t think you lot understand the situation here.
Our Court system is a farce and well understaffed.
Police service has failed in many ways due to lack of adjustment staffing and unwillingness to staff accordingly.
The people of Bermuda require law.
I myself have been denied law in form of outright refusal to take statement of complaint is…Commissioner desilva and Sgt. Smelling….now …when a counstable refuses to do their job this is one thing…when a higher rank does it what recourse have you?!?