Walton promoted to deputy top cop
Deputy Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton
(CNS): Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) after what officials described as a comprehensive local recruitment process. The senior Caymanian officer, who has been in the service since leaving school, will take up the new post after Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brougham, retires in September. Until then, he will work closely with Brougham to ensure a smooth handover, government officials stated in a release.
The Constitution provides for the governor to appoint to the rank of deputy commissioner of the RCIPS, on the advice of the commissioner. Governor Helen Kilpatrick, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Commissioner David Baines interviewed Walton on 24 May as part of the selection process.
On confirming the selection, the governor said, “Chief Superintendent Walton provides an excellent example of a Caymanian reaching the highest levels in our public service. He is dedicated to the service of the Cayman Islands community and I am delighted that he will be joining the RCIPS Senior Management Team.”
Walton, who is from Cayman Brac, joined the RCIPS almost 30 years ago in December 1986 and has worked in every district and department in the service. He said he was honoured to have been selected for this position, and looked forward to being part of the strategic leadership of the RCIPS.
“I also look forward to working with the new commissioner of police to review the operations of the RCIPS and to contribute to recommendations for continuous improvements,” he said.
The RCIPS has faced significant criticism in recent years under the leadership of David Baines with the perception of rising crime, yo-yoing crime statistics and a catalogue of issues relating to management and operations.
Other controversies include the recent search and rescue operation, which is the subject of an independent review, the theft of drugs from the police evidence locker outside the George Town Police Station, and the recruitment of a Jamaican officer charged with murder. The RCIPS was recently the subject of a no confidence motion in the LA.
The catalogue of complaints not just from the public but elected officials culminated in Baines resigning. He officially vacates his post next Tuesday, one year earlier than the end of his contract, but has been fully paid up until May 2017 because, it is understood, the governor accepted that Baines had been constructively dismissed, making the public purse liable to fulfill the contract obligations.
Recruitment is currently underway for his replacement and the governor’s office has confirmed that 53 applications were submitted in response to the recent advertisements. The job has been advertised locally and overseas and officials confirmed that at least one of the applicants is Caymanian. The shortlist is expected to be revealed next week.
Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis will be acting in the post until the new commissioner is appointed.
Category: Crime, Jobs, Local News, Police
Excellent choice for Deputy Commissioner. I salute you Mr. Walton. Keep up the good work and may God continue to bless you and your family.
Good man.
okay now Franz, I want to see him mentored and groomed to be our next commissioner…
Anything else you’d like?
he was also the best damn sweeper in Cayman football in early 90’s but never truly got the recognition since he never played for the two favorite clubs strikers and scholars. I remember CNB destroying both teams in the 90-91 season purely from an unbeatable defense led by Kurt ‘the Russian’ as he was called back then and ‘BJ’ Jefferson (an English policeman)…I know for a fact (as a team mate) that he was invited also to play professionally in Brazil by coach brandoa of brazil but being a detective was more important to him…
8:51am re last Caymanian commissioner – this man is a horse of a different color and the last one never had the background of Kurt… read the BIO which gives you a pretty good sense of his previous experience…the last Caymanian commissioner could not fit into Kurt’s shoes…Kurt is an experience investigator of major investigations and so understands the complexities, which is good for his credibility with his staff…his very last investigation saw a dangerous man convicted for murder after the shooting of three young boys in 2009…however, this is not mentioned on the BIO for whatever reason but you can ask the families of those boys their opinion and see what they say…there is a saying you are only as good as your last job and he has proven this…
Takes a Bracer to do the job. We are so happy , as I don’t like to use the word proud for you. Another good Cop from the Brac is Mr Mc Farlane. By the way where is he now, hope he dosent get lost in the system.
A great example of one of our Cayman Brackers getting the recognition they deserve. Go Kurt, Lauren, Jeremy, etc.
Congrats Kurt. However, why is this being announced like something new. This was decided from last year when Brougham announced his resignation. This is so a smoke screen to lighten the blow when Ennis is not made Commissioner.
well remember the last Caymanian Commissioner
Congratulations to you, Mr. Kurt Walton, you deserve the post. Now, let’s get those law enforcement officers properly trained and show them what Caymanians are capable of doing!! Wishing you all the best and get crime on the downward spiral!! Congrats again.
Deputy Walton is living proof if you keep your nose clean work hard and do your job properly and treat people with respect you can make it. Too bad some people just don’t understand that or get it. Especially those who are still out here posing perpetrating the fraud and trying to make others believe that they are legit. Pecka way yeh deh????
This hasn’t happened overnight, Kurt Walton has been developed and mentored by the outgoing CoP, and sent on development courses to put a very capable officer in a senior command position. Stephen Brougham was going anyway, so it may just be the succession plan than many seek and claim as their own idea has always been in place. What the MLA’s and there ‘plan’ has done is driving others out and creating a police service in crises. And not helped by this very positive story being aligned with every negative story about the RCIPS over the past three months. Did we really need reminding in such depth when the story should be about Kurt Walton. As ever, positive becomes negative.
Congratulations Kurt u deserve be the commissioner
Amjed the Jordanian
wonder if his name was even considered or will be considered for the top spot.
Congrats kurt and want you all to know he from spotbay Cayman Brac
Congrats Mr Walton a far better choice than those and their siblings, henchmen who had to depart because you and your exemplary conduct which simply outshine them and now unfortunately they are causing much strife& upheaval in another law enforcement entity.
Oh gosh this is so true! Certain persons could not handle the professionalism of Kurt! Now making trouble and strive for others in the workplace and got all of tjose heads and DG so fooled.
worked with the man…his mind-set was, ‘no case is unsolvable’…it was as simple as that and we fed off of it…
Congrats Kurt and best wishes for the future.
Being a former senior police officer and knowing your extensive investigative skills, management abilities and current qualifications, if it was left to me and many others, we would have awarded you a “double rank upwards” to the new post of Commissioner of Police.
God knows the RCIPS is in desperate need of a competent individual as Commander in Chief.
We will settle for second place this time around………… but look forward to you becoming our next multi-generational Caymanian Commissioner of Police, not long from now.
Way to go Bracca !!
Thank you Opposition members of the LA for being the catalyst for change. It is time for our capable Caymanians to be allowed to step up.
Was there ever any doubt that he would get the job. Great guy, great cop, great choice.
I am so impressed with what I see happening in the civil service.
Highly qualified and ambitious Caymanians – the civil service is the place to be.
Congrats Mr Walton you worked hard for this promotion.
At last a good and decent Caymanian in a senior position, well done Kurt.
There are masses of “good and decent” Caymanians in senior positions in the civil service so stop making it sound as if there are aren’t, 8:47. Pure mischief making.