Ms. Shanta Emily Knowles is a humble and a well-established individual who has been a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the past 33 years. As Assistant Commissioner she holds the position of Commander of Grand Bahama and Northern Bahamas. During her tenancy she has displayed exceptional leadership and special skills as she has had opportunities to serve in a number of Divisions; inclusive of the Southern Division, Criminal Investigations Department, the Family Island District of Exuma, and Eleuthera and the National Crime Prevention Office, Human Recourses Department and as Commandant of the Police Reserves.

Ms. Knowles is a highly skilled investigator with 28 years of experience in criminal investigation. She has managed the sexual offences squad and the Trafficking in Person’s squad and successfully investigated the first human trafficking case in the Bahamas. She has also investigated a number of major crimes, including rape, armed robbery and murder cases that were bought to successful conclusion with convictions in Supreme Court.

During the years 2017-2020, ACP Knowles served as the Director of the National Crime Prevention Office, where she has functioned in many capacities. Ms. Knowles along with her team conducted walk about in the urban and rural communities, with a view of assessing the level of crime, and the social needs of the people; she also attended community and neighborhood crime watch groups, business community and civic organizations, to sensitize individuals about their personal safety. ACP Knowles also served as the press liaison officer where she communicated effectively with the media and general public, in the interest of the police force.

Ms. Knowles having attended many training courses both locally and internationally, has obtained a vast amount of certifications such as: Leadership and Team Building, Police Intelligence and Financial Investigations (Italy), International Office of Migration Trafficking in Persons Course (El Salvador), Anti-Human Trafficking Skills Training, Human Resources Law, A trainers session: Sensitizing Peers about Human Trafficking, Technical Skills Training to Counter Human Trafficking, Immigration and Customs Control, Trainer’s workshop on Police Response to Sexual Assaults (Barbados), System Integration (computer), Automated Fingerprint Identification System Training, Advance The Computer Application for Middle Managers, Protocol Training, Economic Fraud and Counterfeiting Training, Conclave on Terrorism, Bahama Host, Forensic Interviewing of the Abused Child, Crime Management Module, Domestic Violence Intervention, Sexual Crimes Investigations (Florida, USA), Criminal Investigation Training, and most recently completed a certificate program in Leadership and Management level#3 the City and Guilds of London Institute for ILM, managed by the National Training Agency, Nassau, The Bahamas.

Born on November 19th, 1971 on the beautiful island of Eleuthera, Shanta Knowles grew up to be an intelligent vibrant individual who put her best foot forward in all of her academics and graduated from the Preston Albury High School and obtained her High School Diploma.

ACP Knowles was awarded the Commissioner of Police Commendation for services beyond the call of duty (November 2006), Long Service and Good Conduct (June 2009), Meritorious award (March 2017) Clasp for Meritorious Service and Long Service and Good Conduct (March 2022). She is also the first female to command an official parade for inspection by the Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the first female to head the Criminal Investigation Department, where she was responsible for the investigation of all major crimes in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Ms. Knowles is a Distinguished President of the Kiwanis Club of Cable Beach Sunshine Division 22, Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District, where she has been a member since 2015 she is a member of the International Association of Commissioners of Police. She is a member of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands and attends Christ the King Anglican Church.

She is a loving mother to one beautiful and intelligent daughter such as herself and she takes joy in helping others, and traveling.