The Other Side of Sonia Boyce – A Barbados TODAY exclusive interview

Commissioner of Police Sonia Boyce – the first woman to lead the Barbados Police Service in 181 years – is a law enforcer who has declared her determination to get criminals off the streets and to make Barbados a safe place to be. But there is another side of Commissioner Boyce not apparent to the general public. Barbados TODAY’s senior multimedia freelance journalist, Emmanuel Joseph, engaged the new commissioner, one month and ten days into her post, for an exclusive interview that revealed a not-so-well-known side of the nation’s top cop. Boyce: Thank you for the kind congratulations and for the spirit in which the interview is being proposed. I see this moment not only as a personal milestone, but as a national and institutional one. If my journey can encourage one young girl, one young woman, or one young person considering a life of service, then I would be grateful for the opportunity to share it. I would also want the public to understand that policing is not only about enforcement; it is about service, justice, discipline, compassion, and trust. BT: When did you join the service? I joined the then Royal Barbados Police Force on April 21, 1986. At that time, I could not have imagined every step the journey would take, but I knew I was entering a profession that demanded discipline, courage, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to the people of Barbados. Over the years, I have served in several areas of the organisation, and each assignment helped shape the officer and leader I am today. BT: Why did you join the service? I joined the service because policing appealed to me because it demands discipline, resilience, integrity, and continual personal growth—values that have always been important to me. There is also a strong family connection: I am a third-generation police officer, following both my grandfather and my father into the profession. Their example gave me an early appreciation for the responsibility and honour associated with wearing the uniform. Over time, the work became far more than a job; it became a calling. BT: Once in the service, what was your main goal? My first goal was to learn the job properly and to serve with integrity. I wanted to be competent, dependable, and respected for the quality of my work. As I advanced, that goal expanded into helping others develop, contributing to stronger systems, and ensuring that the public could have confidence in the service we provide. I have always believed that promotion should be a by-product of preparation, performance, and service, not the sole objective. BT: Did you think you would ever become Commissioner? I would not say that I entered the service expecting to become Commissioner. I entered wanting to serve and to do the work well. But as opportunities came, I accepted the responsibility to prepare myself, to lead where I was asked to lead, and to keep  growing. This appointment is historic, and I understand its significance, but I also see it as a continuation of the same duty I accepted in 1986: to serve, protect, and reassure the people of Barbados. BT: What were some of the main challenges along the way? Every policing career carries challenges. There are long hours, difficult scenes, public scrutiny, operational pressure, and the emotional weight of dealing with victims, families, offenders, and communities affected by crime. As a woman in a traditionally male- dominated profession, there were also moments when one had to prove competence consistently and remain focused despite assumptions others may have held. I would say those challenges strengthened me. They taught me patience, discipline, emotional control, and the importance of preparation. BT: Did you feel you had to work twice as hard as your male counterparts? There were times when I understood that visibility brought added expectations. Whether one says “twice as hard” or not, the reality is that women in spaces historically occupied by men often feel the need to be thoroughly prepared, consistent, and beyond reproach. I tried not to carry that as bitterness. I carried it as motivation. My approach was to let the work speak: to be professional, to be fair, to master the responsibilities assigned to me, and to support others coming behind me. BT: Was there any time you felt like quitting? Like many people in demanding professions, there were difficult periods when the weight of the job was heavy. Policing can test your patience, your emotions, and your family life. But I do not believe every difficult day is a signal to quit. Sometimes it is a signal to pause, reflect, pray, seek counsel, and return with renewed purpose. My commitment to service, my support system, and my faith in the value of the work helped me continue. BT: What was your support system like? Support is essential in this profession. No one succeeds alone. I have been supported by family, colleagues, mentors, and members of the service who believed in me, corrected me when necessary, and encouraged me to keep developing. Support also comes from the wider community when people believe in the work of the police. I am especially mindful that leadership is not an individual performance; it is a shared responsibility built on the contributions of many people. BT: Who is your greatest inspiration in life? My greatest inspiration comes from people who serve quietly, faithfully, and with integrity. Throughout my life and career, I have been influenced by family, mentors, and colleagues whose example taught me that genuine leadership is defined not by title or position, but by character, humility, and service to others. My daughter has also played a pivotal role in shaping and sustaining my motivation in many ways. She has been a source of encouragement, perspective, and inspiration, reminding me of the importance of purpose, perseverance, and leaving a meaningful legacy for those who follow. I am especially inspired by people who choose to do what is right even when it is difficult, remain humble in the face of success, and use their influence to create opportunities for others. Those are the qualities I strive to reflect in both my personal life and my service. BT: Who is Sonia Boyce? Sonia Boyce is a Barbadian woman, a public servant, a police officer, a leader, and a person who believes deeply in duty. I am someone who values discipline, fairness, family, education, faith, and service. I am not defined only by rank. I am defined by the values I live by every day: integrity, respect, accountability, and compassion. I have had successes, challenges, lessons, and moments of growth, like anyone else. But through BT: What is your mantra or philosophy in life? My philosophy is to prepare yourself, serve with integrity, treat people with respect, and never forget why you are there. Leadership requires firmness, but it must also be fair. It requires courage, but also humility. I believe in doing the work, holding yourself accountable, and understanding that every position of authority is ultimately a position of service. BT: What are your emotions like in taking up such a heavy responsibility? As Commissioner of Police, I feel deeply humbled, grateful, and acutely conscious of the weight of this responsibility. It is indeed a historic moment, but it is also a profound duty, one that I do not take lightly. The safety and security of the public, the welfare and professional development of our officers, the confidence of the communities we serve, and the reputation of The Barbados Police Service are matters of great importance to me. I understand that effective leadership requires sound judgment, integrity, accountability, and a consistent commitment to service. At the same time, I feel a strong sense of purpose and optimism. This is an important period for renewal, modernisation, and continued transformation within the Service. I am committed to leading with humility, fairness, and resolve as we strengthen public trust and continue serving the people of Barbados with professionalism and distinction. BT: What is your message to people who suggest women are too sentimental to lead law enforcement? I would say that effective leadership in law enforcement is not determined by gender. It is determined by competence, preparation, judgment, courage, discipline, and integrity. Compassion should not be confused with weakness. A good police leader must be able to make firm decisions, sometimes under pressure, but must also understand people and communities. The modern policing environment requires intelligence-led operations, digital capability, crisis management, strong investigative discipline, public trust, and accountability. Those are leadership qualities, not male or female qualities. BT: What is Sonia Boyce’s vision for The Barbados Police Service? My vision is for a modern, trusted, disciplined, and highly capable Police Service. That means strengthening public trust, improving our internal systems, holding ourselves accountable, investing in technology, building intelligence-led capacity, improving investigations, and ensuring that officers are trained, supported, and properly equipped. Crime is changing, and policing must change with it. But modernisation must never remove the human side of policing. We must be present in communities, listen to people, protect the vulnerable, respond professionally, and maintain the peace and safety that Barbadians deserve. If my appointment says anything, I hope it says to young people, especially young women and girls, that there is room for them to serve, to lead, and to excel. But I would also say that achievement requires preparation, discipline, patience, sacrifice, and resilience. Do not allow anyone else’s limited view of you to become your own limitation. Prepare yourself, remain grounded, and let your work speak.   (EJ) The post The Other Side of Sonia Boyce – A Barbados TODAY exclusive interview appeared first on Barbados Today.