Two officers from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) — Police Constable #400 Iveen Miller from Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) and Sergeant #337 Brendon Sutherland from the Traffic Department — recently completed a Media Training event in St Kitts & Nevis, which provided law enforcement personnel from the region with skills to improve public engagement and communication strategies.
Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney, who was featured as a distinguished lecturer during the event, shared insights on effective police communications and community relations strategies emphasized the critical role that well-executed media engagement plays in modern policing while highlighting the impact of police work through Sir Robert Peel’s principles.
“The Police are the Public and the Public are the Police,” Commissioner Rodney quoted, underscoring this foundational concept from Peel’s principles. “Building trust with our communities requires transparent and proactive communication that recognizes this essential relationship.”
The training covered several crucial areas including public relations, community engagement, media relations, social media management, news writing, data storytelling, crisis communications, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in law enforcement.
PC Miller expressed enthusiasm about applying her new knowledge to benefit the force. “With the knowledge gained, I plan to increase the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s social media presence and at the same time warn other officers about the Social Media Policy that is in place,” she stated.
A key focus of the program was the transition from traditional policing models to community-oriented approaches that emphasize collaborative problem-solving beyond crime management.
Participants learned strategies for leveraging social media platforms to improve public perception and enhance community dialogue while adhering to departmental policies.
The training also addressed critical skills in crisis communication, preparing officers to manage public information during emergencies through vulnerability assessment, message development, and effective press conference techniques.
The integration of artificial intelligence in policing operations was explored, highlighting responsible implementation principles and potential applications in areas such as image analysis, risk evaluation, and content generation.
The initiative represents the Police Force’s ongoing commitment to modernizing approaches to public engagement and strengthening relationships with the communities they serve.
