Just six recruits from 114 begin cop training

| 10/01/2017 | 31 Comments

(CNS): Five men and one woman from a diverse range of backgrounds began the classroom element of their RCIPS training Monday. The 2017 recruit class is smaller than police management said they had hoped after they received 114 applications during last September’s recruitment campaign. Once the minimum qualifications were met, criminal record checks made, exams taken, fitness tested and interviews conducted, just nine people were offered a place in the class with three people turning down the offer because of the pay.

“Recruiting local officers is a primary goal for the RCIPS, and it is our obligation to build the next generation of police officers and future leaders now,” said Police Commissioner David Byrne. “While we would have liked a larger local recruit class this year, I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and intelligence evident in our new recruits.”

The RCIPS said that the six candidates who have started the course are all local people aged between 18 and 35. They come from the banking, business and hospitality sectors, as well as the criminal justice system. Two of the candidates that turned down the places were accountants and the third a teacher.

“Policing is a noble profession and a life-changing experience,” Byrne told the recruits as the class began. “As an officer you can have a positive impact on your community and make a contribution that really lasts. The key is to maintain the momentum and enthusiasm you have today for the work, no matter what.”

The recruits will spend 17 weeks on the intensive class-based training course. After their graduation in May they will receive on-the-job training on the beat during a two-year probationary period. At the end of their probation they will be posted to one of the many different police units, including criminal investigation, traffic, marine, air operations, financial crime, family support, or the K-9 unit, based on operational needs and priorities.

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Comments (31)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    For those recruits that are not Caymanian, I hope they are from the U.K. ,or Canada. Hiring people from these crime saturated islands has proven to be a big cluster.

  2. OneVoice says:

    This is most unfortunate to a degree, but we do need to up the standard if we want good Peace Keepers/ Law Officers especially in the Police Service. A lot is expected of these individuals and they have to make on the spot decisions at times ..one being to take a fellow human being life. I also do believe that the training should be longer than 6 weeks, it should be at minimum 3-6 months during which time they should have theory, practical & tactical programs. The world is changing and this little island is no exception .

    I welcome the few and wish them well .

    OneVoice

  3. MM says:

    Just curious; does the RCIPS currently have the capacity to train more than 30 officers at once?

    Or, after accepting 114 applications – what would have been the maximum number of persons that could have been trained through the final stage?

  4. Sucka Free Cayman says:

    Yes 5:21pm i like you because at least you are upfront with your hatred for locals you are not like the countless others who are here, who maliciiously resent and hold enormous contempt and are jealous of us on our little island. Who secretly and deliberately get up every morning for the sole purpose of waging a social and economic war to destroy us and our offspring hopes and future by whatever means necessary in order to enhance their very own social and economic status. Thank you 5:21pm for being so very honest and you are absolutely correct with your remark because it is those very Lazy locals that are either indifferent or stupid to let those just like you continue to get away with your nasty and selfish little agenda on a daily basis. Had a great day 5:21pm MY BFF!

    • Anonymous says:

      Ironically having an attitude like 5.21pm below could be more beneficial to any locals that may have applied for one of the positions but didn’t get it. But having your attitude will get them nowhere.

      I think the point that this news story is trying to convey is that despite 114 people applying for the vacancies only 9 were suitable. The applicants that didn’t qualify need to raise their standards if they really want to be successful.

    • Anonymous says:

      8.40, do you really think we have nothing better to do than plot your downfall? Do you really think we want to live in a place where there is strife between locals and expats? Most of us (but not all, I concede) want Cayman to be successful and not just for us, but for Caymanians, because that way we all win. What is happening now (on both sides of the vitriol) is exactly what Obama said last night- people sitting in bubbles listening to fake stories based on zero fact and not listening to one another, not talking to one another, not understanding one another. That is the danger here, as well as in the US (or anywhere for that matter). The comments you see on here are sometimes so hate filled it makes me sick. From the expat side-we have a choice, leave if we don’t like it, and those that really spout hate should. Caymanians, open a dialogue with us, and you will see for the most part we have good ideas, thoughts and wishes for Cayman-and some of those might help Cayman for all if they were put in place. Most people I know want to help, however we are disenfranchised so we cannot make a difference, unless it is by meeting up with you goes for open and respectful conversation.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry for that guys comment. Unfortunately the internet has allowed and facilitated disgusting and unnecessary comments from both sides. Rest assured, any expat worth their salt won’t share that attitude..

      Perhaps the commentator was driven to it though by the insane ramblings of Kerry Tibbetts and her motley crew of xenophobes over at “I’m a Caymanian where are my rights?”. I couldn’t believe I saw them all using the ‘laughing with tears’ emoji over the organised fights and crime increase at Camana Bay. They were actually taking pleasure from it and really trying to fan flames and incite more violence. Only God can judge them though, all we can do is love them and show them sympathy for they must have hate in their blood.

      • Anonymous says:

        That FB page is malicious and sadly some pretty respectable Caymanians are giving it the thumbs up…

    • Anonymous says:

      Seriously, you need to go back on your meds.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Well done to the successful recruits! I hope the police get more of the suitable people that they need to fill the remaining vacancies.

  6. Anonymous says:

    It is not people failing, but perhaps recognise the standards that are being employed here. Hopefully this will continue to develop long term and the lazy officers that collect a paycheck will be weeded. But they treally need more than six a year, as I understand they have over 50 vacancies at the moment.

  7. Been there, done that. says:

    Next stop, the fire service……

  8. Anonymous says:

    Wishing them all good luck

  9. Anonymous says:

    Lazy locals ? How dare you. It is because of some local that you are in our paradise. How ungrateful and I bet you want PR.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry to say but, PR holders doesn’t qualify unless if they have a PR without restrictions but government doesn’t grant them anymore so a PR is considered as a Work Permit.
      But I completely agree with your answer, I don’t see locals as lazy and that comment was very unfortunate. All I see was, 100+ Locals applying for a job and not being lazy, If they were lazy, they wouldn’t even bother on applying.
      If you think Caymanians are like that, pack your sh#$% and go back to your country!

      • Diogenes says:

        Whilst I don’t disagree that you shouldn’t normally blame someone who at least tries to apply from failing, do bear in mind the results of that exercise to get more Caymanians into tourism and hospitality, where there was a large initial application and many failed to then follow though – some apparently because in applying at all they were ticking a box with the NAU.

        Lets assume that does not apply here, and everyone of those 114 really wanted the job (apart from the three that turned down offers because they hadn’t read the pay line in the ad!). That leaves us with the more troubling prospect that 109 people were either educationally or physically not capable of doing the job of a trainee police constable which, with the greatest respect to the police, is not a particularly challenging threshold , even though they wanted to (or had criminal records) – which is fairly worrying if we consider what their prospects are for obtaining other employment.

  10. question says:

    “Diverse backgrounds” and “Locals” could mean expatriates living here. How many were Caymanian?

  11. Anonymous says:

    How much were they offered?

  12. Anonymous says:

    well done on the elimination process…..must have come as shock to the lazy locals and their entitlement mentality……

  13. Veritas says:

    Does “local” mean Caymanian and not status holders, hopefully it does.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well they let 114 people try, you can’t say they didn’t try.

    • Anonymous says:

      “Status holders” are Caymanian – whether they obtained it by marriage, application or from the government grant. This continuing attempt to make them less Caymanian than those who got it by birth is really annoying & racist.

      ‘Local’ should just mean anyone living here….but again the language used on this and other sites is often twisted to suit the writer.

      Signed
      A Caymanian

      • Anonymous says:

        Most blue collar status holders Caymanian will go back to their country and take their pension with them when they retire. In the main time Govt. is losing money by giving them Status and losing the permit fees.

        • Anonymous says:

          ‘Blue collar’ permits do not bring meaningful income to Cayman. Their ‘pensions’ will not be enough to live here. If they choose to go somewhere else to retire where it’s less expense for health/housing/food that social services providing it for them then it will be a gain for Cayman.

      • Veritas says:

        2.34pm – Well said about the definition of status holders. Sadly however the term ” paper Caymanians” used in a derogatory manner is all too common here.

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