No arrests in gang shootings
Area where Victor Oliver Yates was murdered on 3 January 2015
(CNS): Despite the increase in police patrols and the focus on gang violence in West Bay by police, no arrests have been made yet in the killing of Victor Oliver Yates, who was shot in the head sometime early Saturday morning, or in the connected non-fatal shooting outside a liquor store on Monday night. Police have now confirmed that they believe the incidents are linked and gang-related. An RCIPS spokesperson said they have no descriptions of the gunman that killed Yates outside Super C’s, and although there were said to be several witnesses and a number of people in the car that carried the gunman who shot a 22-year-old man in the wrist Monday, no one has come forward.
As police step up patrols, the head of the West Bay police station told Cayman 27 news that the problem of gang violence in the district was by no means a recent phenomenon and that the latest spate of “callous violence” had its roots in the social problems that have been neglected over the last two decades.
“These are long-term social problems,” said Chief Inspector Harlon Powery. “They didn’t emerge two weeks ago. These things started 10, 20 years ago. We failed to address those social issues many years ago and now we are paying the price for it.”
The list of gang-related murders that the police have been unable to solve is a long one and stretches back many years. Yates’ murder appears, at present at least, to be destined to join the list of unsolved gang-related and district gun violence across Grand Cayman.
Related article: Cops step up patrols in face of violence
People don’t come forward and help because of what they have to sacrifice.. I must go and tell the police who did it and then have to pack my stuff and move away??? And you know the crazy part is.. Most times witness don’t even helop them! XXXX Not only is the local police poor at solving crimes.. But they are even worst at proving it in court! Sorry but its oblivious why people don’t say anything.. Who willing to spend the rest of their lives hiding because you told on someone??
Most of our police are expats who don’t even know the neighborhoods. You can not regulate what you don’t understand. They don’t know our laws. They are not trained to deal with investigations of this type. They are not trusted because they don’t have proper procedures. There is no witness protection procedures. Matter of fact the government doesn’t even have whistle blowers protection procedures. I know this all too well you see I am a “cooperating citizen”. Law enforcement can’t try to have a relationship with a troubled community when things to wrong. You have to keep the lines of communication open at all times. If you want the community to help you you must reach out before things go wrong. You must put procedures in place to protect citizens especially if they have to live in the same neighborhoods as the friends, family and partners of violent criminals.