Senior Irish cop gets top RCIPS job
New Police Commissioner Derek Byrne
(CNS): Derek Patrick Byrne, the assistant commissioner with An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s National Police Service, has landed the job as Cayman’s new police commissioner. While many were expecting a UK cop to take the helm of the RCIPS, the governor’s office released the information Friday afternoon stating that the 36-year Irish police veteran had been appointed following “a rigorous recruitment process”. Byrne will take up the role as the local top cop on a four-year contract in November and said he would “immerse” himself in the community.
He said he was delighted to have been selected and that he was looking forward to working with the governor, government and the men and women of the RCIPS to deliver a “modern, progressive and professional policing service” which meets the expectations of the people.
“The highest level of community support and partnership is critical to realising these objectives,” he said. “Within my first month I will visit all of the islands to meet with community leaders, community groups and business leaders to obtain a first-hand account of policing requirements on the islands, which will feed into and inform future strategic planning and the direction of the policing service,” he added.
“Police leadership brings with it great responsibility to lead with confidence, inspiration and integrity,” Byrne said. “I am committed to ensuring that the RCIPS will work in partnership with communities across the Cayman Islands to deliver a policing service that has the trust and confidence of the communities it serves, a service that is accessible, visible, mobile and responsive, where policing is delivered in a transparent, accountable and ethical framework supported by robust governance structures.”
According to the official release, Byrne was interviewed by a panel chaired by Governor Helen Kilpatrick. The other members were Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Bermuda Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva, local businessman Don Seymour, and former politician Linford Pierson. CNS understands just three people were short listed.
The governor said Byrne was appointed at a time when the people of the Cayman Islands were seeking better service from public entities. “I warmly welcome Mr Byrne and look forward to his experience and expertise making a positive impact on the role of the RCIPS in the Cayman Islands,” she said.
In his last assignment with the Irish National Police Service, Byrne held the national remit for tackling serious and organised crime and also had the strategic lead on international criminal investigations undertaken in that jurisdiction.
He was responsible for managing eight specialised crime divisions and over 700 staff, focusing on up-skilling staff, standardising and professionalising investigative training to ensure a cohesive effort and uniform approach while delivering improved service. He also had responsibility for legal and ethical accountability, human rights compliance as well as operational and strategic business performance for all of the services under his command.
In 2013 he successfully completed the prestigious FBI National Executive Institute Leadership Programme designed for world police leaders at the FBI National Academy Quantico, Virginia, USA. He holds a degree in police management and is currently completing a Master’s at Queens University, Belfast, in the School of International Politics, studying violence, terrorism and security.
Category: Jobs, Local News, Police
Glad to see Cayman rolled out is best welcome on here…jeez half of you have already made your own decisions as to his “guilt” or “persuasions” or memberships of secret organisations already…a fine Cayman Welcome indeed.
Presume he has to swear allegiance to the Crown. That could hurt.
What relevance is this?
I never read so much crap in my life give him a chance good luck
fáilte roimh an jungle . fheiceann tú mé Guiness ag fidels .
You mentioned Guiness so I automatically gave you a thumbs up.
Please let us not judge him by his nationality. We all know how we hate that when it is done to us. Let us give him our respect and support and expect no less from him. May God bless him, us and these beloved Cayman Islands.
I reckon he had some dealings with fighting and investigating the IRA so it’s good that he possess this experience, to deal with some of these gangsta terrorists we have running around in Grand Cayman.
Dia dhuit
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-garda-corrupted-by-sloppiness-indiscipline-and-vindictiveness-1.2666240
The outcome of the O’Higgins inquiry cleared him of any suggestion of wrongdoing and described him as an officer of the highest integrity.
The selection panel knew exactly what they were doing. Brethren hiring brethren. Nothing new here, move along.
Hope that Mr. Byrne is willing to learn more than just a few things from Acting Commissioner Ennis, especially gun control. Perhaps if Mr. Byrne were a Catholic from Northern Ireland he might better understand the UK’s approach to governing its Territories.
Anyway, welcome Mr. Byrne and best wishes. Hope you can foster a better relationship between RCIPS and the general public of the Cayman Islands. That is where the fundamental issue of RCIPS’ effectiveness begins.
What bullsh*t
http://www.meltingpress.com/the-corruption-of-an-garda-siochana/ an interesting read and there are many more if you search. This man is a very senior officer in the Garda, and there is a government investigation into corruption .
Alright XXXXX, you can stop with all the anonymous postings now. I’ve seen about 6 similar posts. Google hard enough and you’ll find negative stories. Whoda thought…
Well, here we go again. The cycle starts all over again. We will watch and see. If he fails to deliver, the Governor’s office gets another black eye. If so, then what?
He looks like he is 50 years old, not 36!!
CNS: He is a 36-year police veteran. That means he’s been a police officer for 36 years, not that he is 36 years old.
Where is the LOL button? I nearly spat out of my coffee laughing at your comment and the response from CNS. In fairness I also initially read it wrong and had a similar thought to you.
CNS: Sorry, we have temporarily lost the LOL button.
You can have a Commissioner who is the best from anywhere in the world. If a large part of those underneath him struggle to chew gum and walk at the same time, the same end result is achieved.
Id rather irish over idaho anyday
So you favor the consumer, eh?
You say Potato, I say potata
Maybe his remit for tackling serious and organised crime will detain him while he invetigates the President of the Irish Olympic Committee arrested yesterday in Rio for ticket scalping.Another example of endemic corruption in the Republic.
Right 9.02, because there is zero corruption in Cayman, right? Cayman, always first to point fingers, last to face their own issues.
Yeah, really, we CAN’T point the finger at ANYONE when it comes to corruption in sport…. no siree. What a tangled WEBB we weave…
An excellent appointment. I have never before so many outstanding appointments in the CIG. Great job everyone.
This cop has been at assistant chief Constable level for many years and is exactly what Cayman needs.
It’s not logical to play off, or make someone better by worsening others. Ireland has many social parallels to the Cayman Islands, inter alia, criminals who intimidate witnesses, criminals who make use of international borders, immigrants who abuse or overstay their welcome, crazy road traffic offenders, embezzlers, fraudsters, drugsters. Mr Byrne shall have seen it all.
Absolutely…and gun crime!
Do you think he has experience of sexual assaults on horses….Cayman has surpassed themselves here!
Thank goodness it is not another snobby English CoP
I have found most Irish and Jamaicans have a lot in common, from an historical context with the English. Will that push Caymanians further down the line, if that was possible?
I personally cannot understand either when they speak.
I hope he will have a positive impact on the RCIPS. Bryne di crime outta ya bobo.
Well hopefully he doesn’t take us back to Baines style of policing. RCIPS has been doing an excellent job since Baines left. No one can deny that.
Speechless at this comment. Baines has only been gone a couple of months and I would say it takes a lot longer for changes to be noticed.
Where have you been looking?
Obviously not through the same tinted spectacles as you!
On today’s CNS website……another weekend of violence!!!!!
Sexual assault on a horse….now come on….CNS today…that’s where I have been looking!!!!
Well all the anti-English people will be happy, he’s Irish!
But I’m hoping he will bring the objectivity, fairness and diversity needed in leadership at the RCIPS.
Welcome to Cayman and all the best!
This is not good news. In recent years the Garda has earned itself a reputation for at best incompetence and at worst endemic corruption. I guess the selection panel didn’t bother to do a Google search of recent news stories.
No, you’ve got it wrong. The Garda, in cohoots with the IRA, learned how to get a confession. Of course, walking around with your knee cap drilled out takes some practice!!
Kneecaps Matter!
Naturally you are talking about kneecaps of any colour?.
Check out Maurice McCabe, the Garda whistle-blower.
The other problem is the Garda is a white, catholic force with a very well documented hatred of the media and strong connections to the Free Masons. He’s definitely not going to be used to dealing with the kind of ethnic and religious diversity you find in RCIPS. I’d say this is a potential train wreck.
Incidentally, CNS you’ll find the two unsuccessful candidates’ backgrounds interesting. The American in particular 🙂
I always though the Free Masons had more protestant leanings?!
Catholics aren’t generally Freemasons and vice versa because of the oath to the crown rather than the Pope. But it’s good to know the experts are on here!!!
Maybe they did do a search. Obviously they picked the best fit as they saw it.
Same as Cayman
I am so glad u did the Google search for us! Now we can hound him out his job for corruption before he even starts. Good idea!
According to this http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/major-blow-to-garda-as-assistant-commissioner-resigns-34980634.html, he only gave in his resignation yesterday!
The outcome of the O’Higgins inquiry cleared him of any suggestion of wrongdoing and described him as an officer of the highest integrity.
Hello, ello, ello!
I think the term is “Top of the mornin’, top of the mornin’, top of the mornin'”
“To be sure, to be sure….”
Certainly not “Och Aye”.