Dr. Chaswell A. Hanna began his policing career in 1993 as a Police Cadet. 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 and 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 also serves as Adjunct Lecturer at the University of The Bahamas and also lectured at Nova Southeastern University, in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Leadership. He has authored several books and research studies including ‘Homicide in The Bahamas, 1991-2003’; ‘Reducing Murders in The Bahamas’; ‘The Story of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’; ‘School Policing: Did it Work?’ and ‘Solutions to the Murder Problem’. His latest work is entitled 'Police Use of Deadly Force in The Bahamas.

After completing recruit training, he won the coveted Baton of Honor for being the top recruit. Dr. Hanna spent his initial years on the Force at the Central Detective Unit (CDU) where he was first attached to the Armed Robbery and Commercial Crime Squads. He served the remainder of his time at CDU as a detective in the Homicide Squad. Between
2007 and 2009, he was appointed as the Director of the Force’s Research & Planning Unit. Dr. Hanna worked at various police stations including the Northeastern Division (Wulff Rd), Southwestern Division (Carmichael Rd.), and a brief stint as the Commander of the Nassau Street Police Station. In July 2013, he was presented with the ’40 Under 40’ Award on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Bahamian Independence, in recognition of his outstanding performance and as an inspiration to the nation’s youth.

In 2014, Dr. Hanna was seconded to the Ministry of National Security as the Director of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Drug Czar). As Director, he was responsible for coordinating all drug demand and supply reduction policies and activities in The Bahamas. History was made under his leadership as The Bahamas was appointed Chair of the InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of the American States (OAS). This was the first time that The Bahamas ever served in such a distinguished capacity.

In 2016, Dr. Hanna completed a 3-month attachment with the Atlanta Police Department under the Executive Leadership Program of Georgia’s International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) in Georgia, USA. While there, he understudied various police chiefs and law enforcement leaders at the Federal, State and local levels. Throughout the attachment, he also worked along with leaders of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) the Bureau of Alcohol Tabaco & Firearms (ATF), and the US Attorney’s Office. Upon successful completion of the attachment, he was presented with a certification in the Law Enforcement Executive Development Program.

In February of 2018, Dr. Hanna was appointed as the National Commandant of Training for the Force. Under his
leadership, more than 2,200 persons were trained including police officers, police recruits, correctional officers,
customs officers, immigration officers, defense force marines, security officers, and civilians under the National Neighbourhood Watch Council. He also coordinated the re-establishment of the Police Cadet Corps, the reopening of the Police Gymnasium, the reopening of the Computer Laboratory, and the construction of the new Control Tactics & Aerobics Center. Academic standards of training were also increased in line with international best practices. Police College instructors were also internationally certified by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in the United States.

In October 2019, Dr. Hanna received a global law enforcement honor when he was invited to serve as a Member of the
Community Policing Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. In 2022, he was invited to serve as the Vice Chairman of the IACP Community Policing Committee. As Vice Chairman, Dr. Hanna assists with coordinating efforts with international law enforcement leaders who study community policing strategies and operations. Members work to define community policing and create standardized criteria for agencies employing it; formulate model policies and procedures for community police operations; sponsor, evaluate, and publish community-oriented policing research; coordinate and distribute literature and other community police resources and reference materials; develop and distribute community policing training curriculum and other learning materials for all levels of police personnel; compile a network of professional law enforcement and academic experts and contact persons on community policing; identify, reward, and portray as models agencies that have successfully implemented community-policing programs; and establish links with non-law enforcement social and human service agencies toward enhanced communication, training, and mutual problem-solving.

In January 2021, Dr. Hanna was appointed as the Commander Western Division, the largest geographical policing division in New Providence. During his tenure at the Western Division, he launched the ‘Safer Driver Award’ road safety initiative. This initiative gained attention in the global policing community and was adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a best practice to promote road safety. The Safe Driver Award initiative was also featured in the July 2021 edition of the famous Police Chief Magazine. In December of 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent. In 2020, Dr. Hanna took command of the South Central (Grove) Division. During his stint at the Grove, he created a flagship operation known as Operation #Justroad. This enforcement operation involved foot and mobile patrols throughout the Division’s communities with focused attention on repeat offenders, bail violators, wanted persons, and drug peddlers. The daily operation contributed to changing the crime trends in the Grove from being among the highest to being among the lowest.

Dr. Hanna’s work with the youth of the nation is widespread. In an effort to prevent the number of incidents involving school students on and around school campuses, Dr. Hanna created a program known as #2ndchance. In this program, school students who were arrested for various minor criminal offenses were given the opportunity to change their behavior by participating in a number of activities at the police station led by police officers. With the consent and involvement of their parents, the kids took part in sessions that ranged from drill and deportment to conflict resolution. Once the students successfully completed the program and did not get into any further trouble, the police would exercise their discretion and not charge them with a criminal offence, thereby giving them a ‘second chance’. Dr. Hanna’s research study on School Policing sparked the re-introduction of police officers on school campuses and his subsequent appointment at the National Coordinator of the School Policing Program in 2022.

On October 1, 2023, the Governor General in accordance with the provision of Article 119(2) of the Constitution and on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Police Service Commission, appointed Dr. Hanna as Assistant Commissioner of Police. He was given the remit of School-Based Policing and training and also has oversight for the Southern and South-Central Policing Divisions.