Armed cops get new adapted SUVs
(CNS): The RCIPS has added four new Chevrolet Tahoes to its fleet specifically for the Firearms Response Unit. The SUVs have been purpose-built to police specifications and will provide enhanced tactical options and more officer safety, police said. They have been fitted with upgraded emergency lighting and reflective decals to identify the armed unit to provide more visibility when they are responding to call-outs or when they are on patrol.
The RCIPS said the SUVs have been equipped with winch capabilities that can pull over one ton, increasing their usefulness during national disasters like hurricanes, when they can also be used to help remove debris or clear roadways.
The police have not released the price tag for the newly adapted vehicles. CNS has therefore asked for the details on the costs and whether provision was made to buy all four during this budget cycle.
Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said the new SUVs were purchased to replace some older vehicles in the fleet that had come to the end of their useful service.
“The vehicles, which have now become operational, are deployed on high visibility crime prevention and patrols, armed response and security details that form a part of the unit’s mandate,” the commissioner said. “The vehicles will be used exclusively by the Firearm Response Unit.”
Governor Martyn Roper said the new SUVs were part of the continuous improvement in policing capability.
“Equipment is essential to ensure the police commissioner’s vision of a police service at the cutting-edge of modern policing,” he said. “These new vehicles will not only play a key role in the RCIPS response to day-to-day policing but will also be a valuable asset to our disaster management strategy.”
The vehicles were deployed on Friday and were on patrol throughout the weekend.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
$50mln a year: gotta spend it somehow, if not on actual mobilized domestic enforcement. The blood truce ensures no local engrained kingpin arrests, and deliberately loose border controls, with scheduled coordinated headline-grabbing interceptions of menial competitors, once to thrice a year. Inadvertent intercepts relinquished immediately from secured compound evidence lockers. Might as well add a few rust-prone winches to the order. They’ll seize faster than any difference made.
That’s it??? Not one Caymanian….
I saw one of these in action last night. It is very colourful and loud. You could park it somewhere and have a rave easily
Get them out to the roundabout in the morning for traffic control asap.
I wonder if they have the same problem as the current fleet which is that they can’t be used for regular traffic stops.
The continued Militarization of our police force, oh sorry, I mean service. 😔
Hello people……things need to evolve. The world and everything in it is changing. You bitch bitch bitch about this and that with the RCIP. Then when they are pro active and are doing things you…..bitch bitch bitch. They are making themselves more visible….more useful, they should be more easily visible/ recognizable than the other units. Times are a changing and the RCIP is starting to catch up. People should applaud everything the police are doing….they are trying.
The HSAshould take a page and step up their game. The emergency room is grossly understaffed, way to small ( hint, hint……need to at least double the size….NOW)…more EMS/ambulances are needed. We need to take care of ourselves.
Yes they’re trying to do everything they can very slowly and not really proactively so adding more vehicles that they don’t know how to even drive is not the answer. Fire the ones that don’t do anything and then start moving onto the next round of getting equipment.
Why the all of sudden buildup of military forces and vehicles…Are we expecting some type of invasion that no one has told us about?
Premier REALLY worried about the referendum.
7.09pm Word has it we are going to be invaded by a big fleet of luxury yachts from Monaco carrying tons of ganja, which explains how they could afford these boats in the first place.
Fingers crossed. I like good weed.
No but a nice coup d’etat in 2020.
Preparing, I suspect, for eventual independence, where these 4 vehicles, 2 helicopters and a small regiment will defend us against yardies, gang bangers, drug lords and possible Cuban/Venezuelan invasion. Or not, as the case may be.
The truth is that the elite who control the Cayman Islands have always had the power and wherewithal to eliminate gun crime.
They have chosen not to as an excuse to tool up for martial law.
Laugh at me today, but you won’t laugh tomorrow.
Perhaps they will ask you if you have paid your Carbon Tax?
Tings moving quicker dan quick.
Huh?
Can you read?
What is the purpose of these outrageous vehicles? The only reason I can contemplate is to intimidate good Caymanian people!
I look at the photo, and I think: “who’s a goood boy?” The canine officer looks just as proud and purposeful as the others.
I want the RCIPS to have whatever they need to do their job. I wouldn’t want to do it and thank them all for it. If they need drones, get them drones. More dogs? Get them. Make sure they are bonded to just one officer, and that bond endures throughout the dog’s life.
I can recall several occasions where a winch would have been useful.
I truly don’t see the problem. Grand Cayman (and maybe even the Sister Islands to a lesser degree) have become dangerous. Whatever they need.
,, and THANK YOU!
The islands have become more dangerous, yes. Allow me, as a law abiding citizen to own a firearm so that I can defend myself and my family. While I appreciate they are working and investing in an attempt to improve things, I still have a delay between when someone wants to hurt me or my family and when the police can assist me.
They still need to drive to me and by that time the crime is done and I’m either dead or wounded. We need to place responsibility for our safety with ourselves and demand the government allow us to (its funny I even have to say we should ask to be able to defend ourselves)
But I do agree with you, If they are making steps to improve I welcome it. I just hope they truly have that intention in mind.
Agree with everything you said.
Disagree with everything you said.
Guns for everybody then we can be trigger happy like in Texas where the cops regularly kill people even in their homes.
We just love new garbage trucks and SUV’s in the Cayman Islands. We can’t buy enough of them.
Wagers on when the first one will be wrecked?
Well I was behind one on Sunday and the indicators were never used even when they switched lanes. they need to lead by example if the police don’t use indicators then why should anyone else?
I reckon at least one will be written off before Christmas.
I would like to see the business case for purchasing these oversized SUV’s for the firearms unit, I don’t see an obvious connection between armed police and such large vehicles. I suppose they could be used for towing our broken down garbage trucks back to PWD.
How does the rest of the world manage without such oversized and inefficient vehicles?
Not well.
The vehicles can hold several armed response officers. They can be used as cover in a shoot-out. They are also heavy, with powerful engines, allowing them to ram smaller cars or block the road easily. They are specialised to be used by armed officers in high-threat situations. Basically the SUVs enhance the armed response capability. The business case will be replace old vehicles, take advantage of benefits of new vehicles, pretty simple.
Why can’t we get right hand drive vehicles for the police? This is so dangerous. Who signs off on these things?
3.46pm All they have is upgraded emergency lighting and reflective decals, not much protection in a gunfight. Looking at the police driving record you are right in saying they will ram smaller cars, likely by accident. Your business case is pretty weak, not pretty simple.
Their size allows taking cover in a gunfight and yes police vehicles are involved in accidents but that takes nothing away from the ability to use the size of the vehicles in an incident for good reason. The upgraded lighting and decals considering these cars replaced old cars is also better. So they are all around better and needed.
Business case? Errr if you’ve got a bullet proof jacket, pepper spray, taser, baton, sidearm, rifle etc. it’s a tad easier to get in and out of than a smaller, conventional vehicle.
Agree that the drivers need to be better though.
They are probably needed to transport the cannon arriving next year.
You see more of these driven by the Yummy Mummies in Kmana Bay on a Tuesday on their bi-weekly shop. No reason the RCIPS shouldn’t have at least 4.
6.17pm LOL Bet we see them in the supermarkets, guns and all.
Goodbye Hannah!!