In addition to advising the governor on nautical matters, he was responsible for the control of shipping lying in the roadstead.
He was succeeded by William Lawrence Flint, the brother-in-law to Sir Stamford Raffles, in April 1820.
[3] Bernard had no previous experience, and the police force, which consisted of just 12 men, had limited resources.
He first worked out of his own residence, an attap house which was completed in December 1820 and in close proximity to Farquhar's residence (present day location of Old Supreme Court Building), before being relocated to a stone building in 1823, which was formerly one of an English merchant Captain Methven's godowns at Ferry Point (close to the lawn in front of the main entrance of present-day Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall).
[7] The police force was later put under command of the Resident Councillor John Prince, after Singapore became part of the Straits Settlements in 1826.