Police officer on leave in the Bahamas

(NewsNation) — The Chief Superintendent of the Royal Bahamas Police Force has been placed on leave pending a “thorough investigation,” officials said.

The update raises questions about police efforts in solving missing persons cases, including the case of a Chicago woman who disappeared during a yoga retreat in the Bahamas.

According to a July 5 press release, Michael Johnson, chief superintendent and senior officer in the Criminal Investigation Division, agreed to a leave of absence from work, an arrangement similar to paid vacation, following the “circulation of voice messages” about Johnson.

“The police take these allegations very seriously. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism within our ranks,” the press release said.

Chief Superintendent Anthon Rahming will assume Johnson’s duties “during this time.”

Nearly three weeks have passed since Chicago woman Taylor Casey disappeared from a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, and according to her family, investigators have gone quiet.

Casey has not been seen since the evening of June 19, when she disappeared from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, where she was taking a yoga teacher training course.

Casey’s family returned to Chicago after traveling to the Bahamas after Casey disappeared, but her mother, Colette Seymore, says there has been no news since then.

Seymore spoke about the investigation on NewsNation’s “Banfield” on Monday night, saying she fears her daughter is being discriminated against.

“When I think about it, my idea really makes me sad,” Seymore said during an appearance on “Banfield” on Monday. “I feel like my child had two disadvantages when she went to the yoga retreat. One is that she’s black, and the other is that she’s transgender.”

Family friend Emily Williams told Banfield that there had been misunderstandings on the part of authorities about who was actually working on the investigation.

“The police need to invite the FBI to actually lead the investigation. That’s what needs to happen,” Williams said.