CoP: We know who the killers are
Police Commissioner David Baines (2nd from right) presides over a police meeting in West Bay Wednesday night
(CNS): The police commissioner has said that his officers know who killed Victor Yates and David Ebanks because witnesses have told them but so far they have no one willing to go to court to testify. David Baines said that neither Ebanks nor Yates were active gang members but were shot by known local gunmen, but despite the significant number of people who saw both killings, no one wants to get involved.
The police were doing everything they could to gather evidence against the shooters and bring charges, he told an audience of West Bayers at a busy police meeting Wednesday evening, but he said the police could not charge without evidence.
In the wake of two murders in the district and a related attempted murder as a result of active gang violence, the police community meeting drew many people and emotions ran high over what was causing the ongoing problems in the district.
“Two young lives were cut short,” Baines said, explaining that the “trigger men” were targeting other gang members who were in the same place as the two young men who were killed. He said the targets of the killers were more astute to the dangers they face from rival gangsters. But, the police commissioner said, as is often the case, they were able to get out of the way of the shooters, leaving innocent bystanders literally in the line of fire.
Baines related past incidents of innocent bystanders, including a four-year old child, being victims of the “active gang war” but with the help of both anonymous witnesses and some who are now in witness protection, the police were able to charge key gang leaders in those killings.
Those serious gang leaders who once thought they were untouchable were sent to jail for life with the help of people who came forward to give evidence, he said as he urged those people who saw Ebanks and Yates gunned down to do the same.
He said that CCTV at Super C’s does show some of the incident when Yates was shot but it also shows an exodus of cars leaving the scene as witnesses got away before the police arrived. And it was some twenty minutes before anyone called the emergency services on Friday night when Ebanks was shot at Kelly’s Bar, he noted.
Baines said the police were doing what they could to work with people who saw what happened. He said he understood the fear and that witness protection meant a complete upheaval but the two young men whose lives were recently taken did not “get what they deserved”. They were not gangsters, he said.
Baines urged the community to talk with the police and help them get the evidence they need. But despite receiving considerable support from many people present, several others raised a catalogue of concerns regarding the district policing.
One woman stated that the reason why the call to 911 on Friday appeared to have been made so late was because people had flagged down a patrol car to assist but that officer had simply driven away. Some ran to the police station a few hundred yards away, where they were told there were no officers available, and it was then that someone finally called 911.
While many members of the public urged witnesses to talk, others said there were still too many concerns that the police cannot protect people who come forward, and in some cases, before witnesses have left the police station what they have told the authorities is already on the street.
The problem of visibility was also highlighted as people said they needed to see police officers on the streets, especially around the known trouble spots. Residents said the police remain sealed in their air-conditioned cars and drive on by, even when it is clear that groups of young men are dealing or causing trouble.
Man up Cayman! Just tell the police what you saw and get these killers off the streets! Don’t wait till it’s your own family members that have fallen victim to them.
Sorry, but this lame excuse don’t cut it. Why not threaten to lock up the witnesses if they don’t testify, they’ve done it for traffic cases already. The Brits got that down pat. As for Caymanians not wanting to join. Rubbish, what has happened is that the expat officers, with the help of a few opportunistic and lazy Caymanian officers (who hope to reap the benefits of their assistance, but don’t) have systematically gotten rid of the good Caymanian officers who WERE doing the work. What we are seeing now is the consequences of their actions which is the failure of the Police to do the job expected and needed. Most of the Caymanians that would’ve joined have seen what has happened to these Officers and have chosen to not join due to these reasons. Until it changes it won’t get better. Time to move on people, I think Columbia is the new city to move too.
The belief that Caymanian police do not want to join the RCIPS because they don’t want to lock-up family and friends is BS! Just like in any organization or society there are bad and good but when officers like MacArthur Bodden (just to name one) were in the RCIPS, no one who broke the law was safe from justice – regardless of nationality. Just who but Caymanian officers comprised the RCIPS back in the day and the prisons were always well occupied?? Albeit serious crime was relatively unknown and ganja possession was the main arrestable offence.
Caymanians don’t want to join RCIPS because it has become one corrupt cesspool with foreign cops protecting each other and their favourite nationalities and the higher-up management being aloof from the reality – XXXXXX
UK’s plan to “curtail” Cayman’s financial industry has been partially successful operation thanks to our lack of leadership and their employment operation. However their crime policy and strategy is far more effective and is achieving all the goals combined. The greatest irony of this we are paying for our own demise.
This is what happens when we no longer have Caymanians in the key positions in the RCIPS. When we had local police they had their ears to the ground and received intelligence therefore preventing a lot of crime.
Absolute rubbish. Many Caymanians do not want to join the police. They simply do not have the strength of character to lock up friends and family who break laws. How is it possible to get them in ‘key positions’ if they do not have what it takes to join in the first place ?
What you’re talking about is absolute rubbish. I suppose you think hiring old retired Scotland yard experts is the answer to our problems or better yet, how about we hire more Jamaican killer cops? We really need to stop and think before writing nonsense on these forums at times.
Once again the message above is the usual stereotypical drivel used as a justification for not hiring our own people. Crime has gotten worse and the annual budget for the RCIP has continually grown. The current methodology being implemented to fight crime is working and should be addressed immediately.
The police in cayman suck they don’t give a rats ass all they want is that check to send home to Jamaica. and the local police turn a blind eye to everything they don’t want to upset them cousins or whomever else they for
“the officer had simply driven away” is absolutely believable. I had that experience recently trying to flag down a passing police patrol car when I found a premises unlocked. Someone else I know had a similar experience directing police to a neighbourhood concern.
So what does patrolling mean to RCIPS – driving around enclosed in sound-dampened AC with eyes locked dead ahead at all times?? Perhaps talking on cell phone, as I’ve observed numerous times?
People can’t trust RCIPS integrity or depend on their capability, hence little cooperation. Any surprise Bainsey??
Fundamentally (and sadly), an embedded distrust of RCIPS creates this situation and RCIPS does nothing to really build bridges with the community. Meetings when crime spikes? Ha!
Citizens know crime’s continued risks to anyone, to us all and to our island’s reputation, future, etc. but the majority of the public have little faith in RCIPS to maintain confidentiality of information and protection of persons providing such info in this littlle place. The price of cooperation has become too high so most people prefer to stay silent and hope it’s not them or theirs in the wrong place at the wrong time, next time.
No longer are the days when retaliation meant a slashed tyre or scored paint job on your car!
Is it not a crime to know whos the killer and don’t step forward?
Why are we constantly blaming the Police? They can’t be everywhere. Those that are so quick to throw blame usually know something that could be helpful to our Police in getting these murderers off the street, yet you are content to just throw blame. Shame on you a…l
It’s such a shame it’s lik the police want them to kill one another while they drive up and down in ac cars… Yet they want people risk they life while they being paid to do a job . There is no confidence in the law department there is a leek In every law systems gov look at the people u hire to protect us killers it self and they ain’t afraid to kill again… Why should we help dem …..
Totally agree with you, don’t help the police, let the killing continue and hopefully not too many innocents will be in the crossfire! Mind you not doing too well so far are they? No one talks and that’s the polices fault too
“…that officer had simply driven away…”
If your paid & trained staff who are “sworn” to Protect & Serve have this level of concern for us why on God’s green earth do you expect anyone else to help you do your job RCIPS?
Because people like you somehow seem to expect the Police to secure a conviction without any evidence which is why when all these cases get to trial, they fail.
You’re not seeing the truth of this. This isn’t about people coming forward, this isn’t about people not wanting to help solve crimes. It’s about certain police officers (I’m not saying the entire force) who are blatantly showing us, the general public, that they simply do not care and that our problems are not their problems.
Can you count the number of “open and shut” cases which have been thrown out because of evidence being poorly collected or not collected at all? Because of lost information or inconsistencies in data collection and follow up from our officers? How many of us have filed reports only to have to then chase down these same officers to beg for information and hear the infamous “I’m sorry, he/she isn’t on duty so no one can help you, call back in three days”. We know that there is no faith in the RCIPS and there are several seemingly obvious reasons why, what is being done to rectify them?
I have personally submitted dozens of images to the RCIPS with names and faces, dates of these local “thugs” that they openly post on social media with guns, enormous amounts of drugs and stolen goods that they boast about. Who wants to take a guess as to what was done with this information?
I’m not blaming the police for the crime, all I’m asking them to do is their job in helping to curb and control it. When did that become an unreasonable expectation?
Do not be so naive. Prosecutions need to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. That cannot be done without evidence. Witnesses provide evidence. It is not a case of ‘helping them to do their jobs’. It is your civic duty.