Meet the CEO

Mrs. Otarah Byfield-Nugent is an Attorney-at-law by profession and was called to the Bar in Jamaica in 2009. She spent a small stint in private practice before becoming the Legal Counsel/Corporate Secretary, in 2010, at the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority (PCOA), where she served in that capacity for 9 years. Mrs. Byfield- Nugent was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the PCOA in June 2019.
With over 15 years’ experience in the field of civilian oversight of law enforcement, Mrs. Byfield-Nugent was instrumental in introducing the Prisoners in Custody inspections, which has now become a routine part of the PCOA inspection of police stations, across Jamaica, including thematic inspections of jails.
Under her leadership, the PCOA, has implemented key initiatives aimed at promoting accountability in law enforcement, improving citizen/police relationships and working towards the transformation and professionalization of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). One key initiative is the development of the Area Accountability Framework, dubbed the Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) programme. Launched in 2019, the programme seeks not only to enhance the culture of policing in communities, but also encourage greater conformance with prescribed policies and procedures of the JCF, as well as boost the morale among police officers. The programme also facilitates a broader objective of the PCOA to enhance professionalism and police partnerships built on openness, trust and accountability. The TOPS programme is unique as it is comprised of four phases that are aimed at driving accountability: The TOPS Area Command Inspection Competition; The TOPS Award Ceremony; A Performance Review Meeting; and The TOPS Re-inspection. Most recently, the TOPS Poster Competition for Secondary Schools was added to the programme, so as to include the voices of young people, as active participants in the partnership and process of transformation.
Additionally, Mrs. Byfield-Nugent has spearheaded the implementation of the Station Monitoring Programme (SMP), which is designed to establish that there is a correlation between consistent monitoring and increased compliance by police officers. Since launching the programme, in 2024, the PCOA has seen a 100% increase in compliance with standard operating procedures, for stations monitored, over a 5-month period, under the initiative.
While working with the PCOA, Mrs. Byfield-Nugent has worked closely with law enforcement, government officials and advocacy groups to foster closer relations between the citizens and the police. She has participated in local and international conferences where she has acquired significant knowledge and experience in matters concerning oversight of the police. She has also sat on the committee to review and replace the Jamaican Constabulary Force Act with new legislation to come, to transform the JCF into a modern and professional policing service.
Mrs. Byfield-Nugent currently holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, 2007, along with her Legal Education Certificate, from the Norman Manley Law School, as her professional qualification to practice law in Jamaica. She was also awarded an Masters in Business Administration and Project Management from the ENEB Business School in 2021, adding to her MSc in Government and BSc in International Relations, in 2005 and 2003 respectively. Mrs. Byfield- Nugent has amassed several certifications across respective fields of study, but most notable is her Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification, from the Project Management Institute. She is now on her way to completing her NACOLE Certification as a Certified Practitioner in Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.
Mrs. Byfield-Nugent is currently married and a proud parent of two daughters.
As CEO of the PCOA, her leadership is rooted in the PCOA’s core values of professionalism, integrity, accountability and customer focused outcomes. She remains committed to the PCOA’s vision to provide efficient inspecting and monitoring of the JCF, with a view to improving policing processes and building public trust and confidence in the police service.