The Royal Gazette and Bernews report that DCOP Paul Wright has announced that he will be retiring from the BPS next month (November 2018) The report in full can be reviewed in the Royal Gazette at http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20181011/wright-to-retire-as-deputy-commissioner
The article on Bernews can be found at http://bernews.com/2018/10/deputy-commissioner-to-retire-after-34-years/
The Royal Gazette quotes DCOP as saying that Commissioner Stephen Corbishley has “energised the senior leadership team as well as the rank and file of the service”.
Mr. Wright says: “It is with this optimism in mind that I feel confident that the time has come for me to retire."
“I have had a stimulating and diverse policing career spanning 40 years, 34 of which have been with the men and women of the Bermuda Police Service, of whom I am so proud.”
Mr Wright has worked in many areas during his career on the island, including community policing, criminal investigations, Special Branch, intelligence and serious crime.
He has been either Assistant or Deputy Commissioner for the past seven years. Mr Wright began his career with Humberside Police in the North East of England in 1979 and moved to Bermuda six years later.
Mr Corbishley said: “Deputy Commissioner Wright has given 40 years of his life to policing.
“He has shown exceptional leadership during times of unprecedented violence, economic challenge and constant change."
The BPS website which provides pen pictures of all of the Senior Management Team (see http://www.bermudapoliceservice.bm/content/senior-management-team contains the following entry for DCOP Wright
Deputy Commissioner Paul M. Wright OTM MSc CMgr FCMI CBII
Deputy Commissioner Paul Wright is responsible for the Departments of Human Resources, Technology Services, Occupational Health and Professional Conduct. Mr. Wright also serves as the Service Discipline Officer, working closely with the Police Complaints Authority to maintain the standards of professional behavior and respond to any complaints made against police officers.
He has over 35 years of policing experience having served with the Humberside Police in England for six years before joining the Bermuda Police Service in 1985. He has served in a wide variety of postings including Community Policing, Criminal Investigations, Special Branch, Intelligence and Serious Crime. In 2001 he assumed responsibility for Special Branch and the Government Security Office upon promotion to Inspector. Mr. Wright was promoted to Chief Inspector in 2004 and served as the Crime Manager for the Service. Upon promotion to Superintendent in 2007 he commanded the Intelligence Division where he implemented a modernization strategy to direct and underpin Intelligence-led Policing. In 2009 he assumed command of the Serious & Organised Crime Division where he initiated a program to professionalize investigation processes. He was promoted to Assistant Commissioner later that same year and in 2010 took charge of Community Policing. Mr. Wright was appointed to his current post as Deputy Commissioner by His Excellency the Governor on 12th May 2014. In June 2014, Mr. Wright was awarded the Overseas Territories Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
The 2015 Throne Speech announced the intention to replace the forty-year old Police (Discipline) Orders of 1975 with a modern performance and attendance management framework that would also provide a fair and effective process to deal with officer misconduct. Mr. Wright led that change, culminating in the passage of the Police Amendment Act 2016 and the introduction of the Police Conduct and Performance Orders that came into effect on 2nd December 2016.
In addition to completing the International Strategic Leadership Program at the Bramshill Police Staff College in England, Deputy Commissioner Wright is a certified member of the Bermuda Insurance Institute and also the recipient of a Master’s Degree (MSc) from the Scarman Centre at the University of Leicester, England. In 2008 he was also admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and in 2012 he was designated by the Institute as a Chartered Manager.
Editors note - Paul Wright has without doubt been a most popular member of the BPS who has enjoyed a sterling reputation through his career, He has also been a major supporter of our Bermuda Ex-Police Officers Association who regularly attends many of our ExPo function together with his lovely wife Angela. Typical of Paul's strong attachment to the BPS and ExPo he sent the following message regarding his retirement function being held at the Police Recreation Club on Friday 2nd November between 6pm and 8.30pm:-
Friends,
I am delighted that Commissioner Corbishley has settled into the role so quickly and that his vision for the future of the Bermuda Police Service has so energized the senior leadership team as well as the rank and file of the Service. It is with this optimism in mind that I feel confident that the time has come for me to retire. I have had a stimulating and diverse policing career spanning forty years, thirty-four of which have been with the men and women of the Bermuda Police Service of whom I am so proud.
I have served in the post of Deputy Commissioner since 12th May 2014 and it is time for my successor to be identified from among our ranks in a process that will be announced very shortly.
I have never been fond of being the focus of attention and so I have asked that my retirement function be a low-key affair. It must also be open to everyone that would like to attend of all ranks and including our police staff and Reserves. To that end, Staff Officer Cal Smith is organizing a reception at the Police Recreation Club on Friday 2nd November 2018 between 1800-2030hrs. The event is free and cocktails and finger foods will be served. I do hope that you will pop by to say farewell (or good riddance!) to me – even if it is just for a few minutes. Most importantly, if you are planning to attend, please send an email to Cal at csmith@bps.bm<;mailto:csmith@bps.bm>; so that he can assess the catering and bar staff requirements. Thanks.
We are aware that many of the officers who worked with Paul during his earlier days in Bermuda are now living abroad and will be unable to attend his farewell, but if you would like to send him a personal message you can do so either by posting it the Comments section immediately below this article, or by emailing us at info@expobermuda.com and we will make sure he receives it on 2nd November. In the meantime we wish Paul a long, happy and healthy retirement.