Police call on ‘special’ people to volunteer
RCIPS special constables
(CNS): The RCIPS is putting out a call for all people who may be interested in “a very special and rewarding type of volunteering” as a member of the Special Constabulary. The three-week recruitment drive to bolster the ranks of dedicated volunteer police officers started Friday. The specials have the full powers of a police constable and regularly assist the RCIPS in its policing and outreach within the Cayman community. Recruits receive intense training to carry out regular police duties and, once graduated, can do anything, from traffic enforcement or emergency response to proactive patrolling.
“This is a very challenging but highly rewarding and interesting way to serve the community,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Kurt Walton. “The work that specials do strengthens public safety and security in our country. We are very grateful for the commitment and enthusiasm they bring to policing.”
Those who join the constabulary are strictly required to commit to a minimum of fifteen hours of work per month, and Chris Duggan, who is the commandant of the RCIPS Special Constabulary, said it was one of the more impactful and rewarding ways to volunteer while learning about public safety and the community.
“Policing is a very challenging but fascinating endeavour, and by volunteering as a special constable your impact and influence on the community and the lives of so many will be significant,” he said. “I look forward to welcoming a full complement of new recruits to our next training programme starting in early October.”
On Saturday, 2 September, special constables will have a booth at Camana Bay from 10:00am to 4:00pm, during which time interested individuals can ask existing specials them about their experiences and they will have applications at the ready.
Special constables will also be making media appearances to answer questions and talk about their own fascinating and rewarding experiences on the job.
Those interested in applying to become a special constable with the RCIPS can download the application form from the RCIPS website here or email info@specialconstabulary.ky for more information.
The recruitment drive for new Special Constables is will last until 5:00pm on Friday, 15 September, which is the deadline for applying. All applications should be printed out, signed and brought to the RCIPS Training and Development Unit at Governor’s Square during regular business hours (ph. 946-2012).
If you read the description of the Special Constables duties and commitments on the RCIPS website, it seems the main purpose is provide crowd control and traffic direction during major events like Pirates Week, fetes and the Agricultural Show (you have to do at least 6 special events a year, and lots of emphasis on how you cant duck out of it). Saves paying the regular coppers overtime. So some pretty s(*&^^y work assignments, no pay, you can also be assigned to a district miles from where you live – any petrol money? – and you even have to pay them if you damage the uniform. Sounds like a winner.
No one does voluntary work like this for the pay – you would be mad to. However, when you restrict the work that the volunteers to scut work, and don’t pay them to boot, you are not exactly saying that you value their service and are setting them up to be regarded with contempt by the public and their fellow officers – none of which exactly encourages volunteering. How about reducing the emphasis on the warm bodies approach to policing and producing some stories of a positive roles in the Specials, RCIPS?
Your usual cynical pie ingredients are so negative, as usual Fred. I served as a Special Constable several years ago when I was younger, and was readily welcomed by my Seargant when I reported for duty. I very soon qualified as a force driver, and was very involved in just about every aspect of police work. I remember years ago when there was a backlog of court warrants that needed to be served. The “Octopus Squad” was formed with a couple of hard working regulars supported by a very hard working team of Specials, and by God, they got the job done using great energy, and local knowledge. Several of those Specials are now valuable regular officers. Our work was pretty much the same as our regular team members.
Put that in your pie and smoke it Fred! Have you ever considered volunteering yourself, or do you stick to criticism only.
It has been said that these minimally trained “community wardens” will be tasked with walking the most “perennially” dangerous and poorest beats in the Cayman Islands. These little Tivoli housing clusters (and we all know where they are!), informally garrisoned by known gang leaders, some without vehicle access or running water, have more in common with Mogadishu than with suburban USA. The volunteers won’t have any weapons or power of enforcement. Sitting ducks with notepads essentially against complicit and hushed residents. Maybe some radios to “call for backup” – a kind of tactical coordination method that rarely operationally comes together here. Those willing to take this on this kind of life-changing exposure – the kind that our existing trained, paid, and armed constabulary have refused to walk for decades – are very special indeed. Hats off.
” we need more police officers but we don’t want to pay them”
And physical requirements?
A pair of eyes and ears, and half a brain.
Don’t say that!!! It’s a lot more than that, they need to know how to order from Popeyes!!!
They just need more servants for us civilians, hence the title, civil servants
Yeah, but you only get one bullet.
Hey Al Catraz, when last did any Cayman Islands Police Service officer get shot? Be factual, and get real.
lots of ‘special’ people in cayman…….
Please dont add fury to fire. Moral of the Police Force is low dont need any extra baggages to sink it further. Hire real professionals who can produce professionalism which is very much lacking
I hope they will be allowed to go the beat which is much lacking. It would be ironic that some of these special constables are more academically qualified to do the job than those who will supervise them. I know, I have witness it.
You dont need special volunteers, there are a number of retired, highly knowledgeable/experience police officers who would be happy to still make a contribution to combat crime which has now become endemic. Some of these retired officers still have their informants who would be glad to give information to. Also some of these retired officers presented excellent case files to the court which resulted in convictions. Do a check-list of retired officers. Please the moral of the RCIP is at a time low, so I hope your special volunteers will be made up of a wide section of professionals not low-skills job. In the mean time I hope consideration is given to appoint a local Commissioner of Police . I know for a fact the last local commissioner of police was not effective.
If retired police officer are interested I’m sure they will volunteer.
There is an age limit of 50
“Full power of a police constable” So immunity included?
The public has to be able to trust the uniform.
What is the age limit ?
Website link within article says between 18 and 40 and have to be Caymanian or have PR.
That’s for a full time job. WP holders can apply to be specials – although not if they have been here for, more than 5 years (why?) or have an outstanding PR application. Ditto PR holders – cant apply if they have an o/s status application (again, why?)
I tried to volunteer and was told that, at the tender age of 56, I was too old. When Commissioner Kernohan was CoP they didn’t apply an age limit so why is it in place now?
Do I get a vest and gun? You need the tools to do the job…
I hardly think you are going to be armed do you? Or is that a sarcastic comment. RCIPS is basically an unarmed Force with a specialist trained firearms unit. Special Constables are, as stated, a volunteer team of both male and female officers to aid the regular team. They have the same powers of a regular officer and are trained accordingly.
No. You won’t get a vest or a gun. You will be lucky to get a uniform.
Maybe a florescent vest!