Director
Dr. Chaswell A. Hanna is an Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), having enlisted in 2002. He won the coveted Baton of Honor for the best overall police recruit. He received an Associate of Arts Degree in Law & Criminal Justice from the College of the Bahamas in 1997; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice & Military Science from Northern Michigan University in 1999; a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement from the University of South Carolina in 2002; and a Doctor of Education Degree in Organizational Leadership & Conflict Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in 2011.
Dr. Hanna is an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of The Bahamas and Nova Southeastern University, lecturing in Criminal Justice, Sociology and Leadership. He has authored several books including Homicide in The Bahamas, 1991-2003”, “Reducing Murders in The Bahamas” and “School Policing: Did it Work?” His last book on school policing analyzed the impact School-Based Police Officers had on school crime and drug possession incidents, and how they can be better used in drug prevention and demand reduction in schools. His current research works include “The Relationship Between Drugs & Crime” and “Preventing Drug Use Among Bahamian Youths”.
Dr. Hanna served as a homicide detective as well as the Officer-in-Charge of Research & Planning in the RBPF. In 2014, he was posted to the Ministry of National Security as the Director of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (NADS). As the Director of NADS, Dr. Hanna is responsible for coordinating all national drug demand and supply reduction activities. He conducts drug-related research studies which he uses to guide policy decisions at the national level. He represents The Bahamas at the OAS’ Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) Regular Sessions, and the Working Group to Develop the Hemispheric Plan of Action on Drugs 2016-2020. He also leads the drafting of the National Anti-Drug Strategy 2017-2021 for The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
