Joint Press Conference: Minister of Labour, Home Affairs & Housing Lt. Col. David Burch & Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva - We would like to bring to the public’s attention some of the successes our young people are earning through the Bermuda Police Service Cadet Programme and our Further Education Programme.

The Police Cadet Programme has been in existence since the early 1960’s and has graduated hundreds of cadets who have gone on to a career in policing or other pursuits in society. We have former Cadets across the entire spectrum including doctors, lawyers and prominent business owners.

The programme suffered a brief hiatus in 1997 when it was discontinued for a number of reasons including financial constraints. In February 2000 funding was secured and the programme was reinstated. In 2005 the Bermuda Police Service received Government’s support and funding to expand the cadet programme to include the Further Education Programme. This enables qualified young Bermudians to receive substantial funding for tertiary education at the Bachelors’ Degree level, before returning home to serve as a Police Officer.

The aim is to ensure that our officers are well rounded academically and are best equipped to deal with the myriad of situations they will encounter as Police Officers. The community of Bermuda is ultimately the beneficiary of a highly trained and educated officer.

The Further Education Programme is now starting to gain traction and we are beginning to see the fruits of those seeds that were planted in 2005. Here are three individuals, two currently serving as Police Officers and the other as a Police Cadet, that have benefitted from the programme -

• Constable Derek Golding (24 years old)

o       He joined the Bermuda Police Service as a Cadet in August 2004

o       Graduated with Associates Degree in Business Administration from Bermuda College - May 2005

o       August 2005 - enrolled at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Graduated with a BA in Business Administration - May 2008

o       Constable Golding graduated from Recruit Foundation training November 2008 with the Baton of Honour and commenced general police duties; currently posted to the Criminal Intelligence Unit at Hamilton Police Station.

• Constable Kristyn Minors (24 years old)

o       She joined the Bermuda Police Service as a Cadet in August 2004

o       Graduated with Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems from Bermuda College in May 2007

o       Graduated with BA in Information Technology Networking from New England Institute of Technology  Rhode Island in May 2010

o       Placed on the Dean’s List every semester during the entire 3 years

o       April 2010 Constable Minors was attached to the Bermuda Police Service Technology Department & is waiting to attend the next available Recruit Foundation Course.

• Cadet Stephen Dill (21 years old)

o       He joined the Bermuda Police Service as a Cadet in August 2006

o       Graduated with Associates Degree (Honours) from Bermuda College in May 2009

o       Police Cadet Dill was accepted at the University of Tampa (as a junior) and is working towards a BSc in Accounting.

• About the Cadet Programme:

o       There are currently eight serving Cadets; three males and five females

o       Seven are working toward their Associates Degree at the Bermuda College

o       One is currently enrolled in a Bachelors degree program at the University of Tampa

Interested in joining the Police Cadets?

o      Applicants should be 16-21 years old on admission to the programme

o       Possess a High School Certificate or GED

o       Be enrolled in at least an Associates Degree program at the Bermuda College

o       Possess good physical and mental health

o        On completion of an Associates Degree, Police Cadets are expected to serve three years as a Police Officer.

• The Further Education Programme is:

o       Designed to create opportunities for Police Cadets to peruse tertiary education before they commit to mainstream policing. 

o       Achieve successful Completion of an Associates Degree

o       At an Accredited College or University

o       With $20,000 available for up to three years to obtain a Bachelors Degree

o       On completion of a Bachelors Degree, Police Cadets are expected to serve five years as a Police Officer.