Former Deputy Commissioner of Police in Jamaica Fitz Bailey is now the acting police chief in Turks and Caicos Island, effective today.

His appointment comes just over a month after being hired as Deputy Commissioner for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. 

His promotion comes after the Turks and Caicos Islands Governor’s Office issued a statement yesterday announcing Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam’s acceptance of the resignation of Police Commissioner Edvin Martin.

In seeking to explain the reason for Commissioner Martin’s sudden resignation, the statement from the Governor’s office read, “The circumstances are unavoidable due to a personal matter that requires Martin’s urgent attention. To maintain stability and direction with effect from November 22, Deputy Commissioner Fitz Bailey will act as commissioner on an interim basis whilst a permanent recruitment process is taken forward.” 

The statement said the governor praised the steadfast dedication of the outgoing commissioner while expressing confidence in Bailey’s abilities to lead the force. “I am confident Bailey is well placed to lead the force, drawing on his wealth of complex crime experience and strategic leadership,” Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam said.

Bailey, who was Jamaica’s Deputy Commissioner in charge of the crime and security portfolio, retired on September 7, 2024, having served the police force for 40 years. 

A month after his retirement from Jamaica’s police force, Bailey accepted an appointment to “provide further resilience” to the police force in the Turks and Caicos Islands.