Cops plan to sue CoP over promotion failings
(CNS): The local police association has revealed plans to sue the police commissioner as a result of what it said is a continued failure to give its members a chance of promotion. In a press release issued Monday, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Association (RCIPA), which is made up of the rank and file, said dozens of officers are in acting jobs, some for as long as four years, preventing others who have passed the relevant exams the chance to move up the ranks.
The RCIPA said that over the last three years no positions currently filled with acting officers have been advertised and no interview boards have been convened. It also stated that at least 21 posts are held by officers who have been acting in those jobs for more than 12 months, which is the statutory time limit.
The release said the commissioner of police has been served with a formal Letter Before Action (LBA) as a result of the “unlawful decisions in relation to and failures in the administration of promotions within the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service”.
The letter claims that the unfair system of promotions by the commissioner is in breach of his legal obligations and is contrary to the Public Services Management Law and Personnel Regulations (2019 Revision). It said the CoP “continues to misuse his powers” under the Police Law by repeatedly appointing officers to act in roles for periods in excess of the year-long minimum and has failed to hold any promotion interview boards.
“Officers have been appointed by the CoP to acting roles and remain in these roles in excess of the 12 month statutory time limit,” the release stated. “These appointments have been happening at an alarming rate, with officers remaining in acting roles for up to nearly four years.” This has left qualified officers out in the cold with no chance of getting the promotions they are working towards.
The RCIPA said that “officers who have passed the promotion examination from as far back as 2007, have been denied an opportunity to be promoted to these roles”. It continued, “There are currently 57 constables who have passed the promotion to sergeant examination, and 16 sergeants who have passed the promotion to inspector examination, who are all awaiting an opportunity to be interviewed by the promotion board.”
CNS has contacted the Police Commissioner Derek Byrne through the RCIPS Communications Unit and we are awaiting a response.
Read the full release in the CNS Library.
Category: Jobs, Local News, Police
not much sympathy for the guy who closed beaches because his force was too lazy to enforce a few basic rules and regulations.
Caymanians don’t want to be Police officers. How many Caymanians are supported, promoted and funded through law degrees in works time only to leave for the private sector, legal services or higher paid government jobs. This results in no skill base being retained amongst locals and needing foreign officers to come with their experience to compensate.
For the general police there is no promotion, even if they have been acting in the role for years, no training or development, overtime paid at less than hourly rate, cronyism, non-existent leadership, all resulting in issues with retention, morale and performance.
I beg to differ. I know of MANY Generational Caymanians who are of excellent character, fit (and that can be improved during training as they are clearly doing for some), honest, hardworking and constantly refused but fellow Caymanians with Jamaican connections or parents haven issue, even when they’re not as ‘qualified’.
The issue is that even when hired, the Caymanians are bullied and not assisted so they leave.
Rubbish. Give a named example. You are stoking division.
If it is true that the CoP has done what has been alleged in this article then his resignation is the only way for RCIPS to move forward and to regain some level of trust and respect within the ranks.
Although, I agree with you
it won’t happen
There is a failure to train locals to take these position
People thinking passports are more important than ability. A sound basis for a good police force.
People thinking passports are more important than ability. A sound basis for a good police force.
Maybe we need to ask the question how many fine local officers have left RCIP since this Comissioner arrived.. then ask, why they left. They left because of him… He is highly opinionated and autocratic… It’s Derek’s way or the highway… I think the modern term for this managemnet style is bullying.
They left because RCIPS pay structure and refusal to pay overtime at the correct rate and not the arbitrary $20 an hour
Guy Ebanks: They leave because of the disparity in wages. The lack of adherence to wage structure laid down by government. Try getting a pay rise or getting anywhere near what your experience and knowledge is worth. They leave because they stagnate in a promotion pool for years. Because advancement and ongoing professional development is a rare thing. They leave because they see a corrupt and nepotistic regime with little hope of change. They leave because the private sector treats their staff better, pays them commensurate with their skills and values them.
Look at the senior management of RCIPS.
Both deputies Caymanian.
Two out of three Superintendents Caymanian.
There are two out of four Caymanian chief insps but no one can ever find one of them or knows what he does.
The COP needs to get rid of the deadwood from top to bottom Caymanian and expat and employ some people with a bit of enthusiasm for the job.
The Senior Management is majority Caymanian so you cant blame it all on the expats.
If true the two deputies are letting their people down and are quite happy to take the $100,000 salary
The commissioner is getting the blame, but examine closely the 2 Caymanian Deputy Commissioners who have been in office before this sitting Commissioner. What have they done to help with this situation? Guess they don’t really care about their members like they preached…. Open your eyes!
Very sad it is now very clear that cayman is now becoming racist of colour, don’t be fooled it’s not every black person in the police force or in cayman is Jamaican, why every thing that is not good they blame Jamaican for it come on we have good Jamaican who have help to build up cayman island why so angry, in every country you have good people and bad people
3.02 A few helped build but many more destroying Cayman.
Build and paid for it.
Many became Caymanians as well are either still here or since migrated to their country of choice.
So get over it, will you….
3:02 pm. Yes there are a few good Jamaicans, yes few. That’s it few. Most problems in Cayman are caused by Jamaicans. Guns and drugs. That’s a fact.
It doesn’t matter which side you side with on the promotions, or not, and why, or why not. What matters is that there are rules and they should be followed.
Or if the rules are wrong fix the rules. But working outside the rules, regardless of motivation or effect, is wrong.
Hopefully. It has been a long time coming. I hope the judiciary have the fortitude to see this out.
Imported high-level white guys are part of a sweet preferential colonial club that must be managed very carefully these days. The central philosophy appears to be: don’t offend or obstruct the locals, challenge their gang leadership, or work too hard. If a district politician tells you to give their district’s ritual Sunday DUIers a break, you listen as a matter of self-preservation. There is a rule book of “leave that guy alone, he’s so-and-so’s cousin”. After serving in a grueling and dangerous career elsewhere, the priority now is to relax, and enjoy the sunshine, annually highlight uncorrelated stats improvements for the Governor, secure budget expansion, organize and attend Champagne Ritz Ballroom Black Tie Awards Event, drive your boat to Rum Point on Sundays, catch some fish, go for a snorkel, all while milking the perks of office as hard and long as possible. Finding it impossible to win, they must adapt and reinforce to the loosing status quo. It explains everything we see, and don’t see. It’s difficult to review Derek Byrne’s past anti-corruption career dossier and reconcile it to what we are seeing. Maybe that disconnect is hardest of all in the first-person.
I am interested in how you were able to accomplish the feat of fitting so many wrong things into that diatribe. You really haven’t a clue.
West Indians so jealous of the ‘white guys’ yet trying so hard to live like them, treating Caymanainas the way slave owners treated slaves
Yup a bunch of leeches milking the goverment for doing squat. Only need the higher positions for more easy $$$$
90% of government is leeches themselves. biggest welfare program on Island.
yes..we know.. cops are just more civil service leeches…
Not read the whole thing, but I thought you had to earn a promotion? The public don’t see anything that would warrant anybody getting a promotion.
To my mind they should all consider themselves lucky to have jobs in this current environment and count themselves fortunate they haven’t implemented any demotion plans or significant redundancies/furlough schemes.
It appears that Mr. Kurt Walton is stalled at his level. Is this true, and if so, why? If he does not exemplify a model Caymanian officer, then who?
9:11am. This COP was hailed on his arrival as the best person fitted for this job. As Olga saying goes, ‘Better than sliced bread’. We always manage to get the best qualified individuals for these top jobs from overseas. Have we learnt jet? They are here for all the S’s, -Sun, Sea and Salary.
Who is interested in promoting those in the lower ranks? If they were from across the pond they would’ve been promoted long ago. No equal rights, not even in the Police Service.
Backside talking!
Kirk Walton needs to serve somewhere that will give him the opportunity to shine. Cayman is not it. When you serve somewhere highly regulated and busy you are exposed to people and methods he just cannot get here. With those experiences under his belt he would make COP. Just not without. There really is no other way if you truely want a Caymanian COP. Plus he could make a name if he dealt with some of the corruption.
Caymanians are getting assistance and direction in the RCIPS under this Commissioner. As one poster highlights, the problem is the Police Association and the personalities in there.
Mostly all from a certain country located 300 miles to our southeast.
Tge association has been corrupted by Jamaicans. Everyobe nnows it. It is obtuse and obvious.
Poor education is the real problem.
I know. I keep lobbying the Jamaican government to improve it, but they tell me it’s none of my business and to stay out of their domestic affairs.
Passing the test for a promotion is all well done. The CoP also have too look at how well the officers can deal with the human aspect part of policing. With no disrespect sometimes that maybe the reason the officers that passes the examination for promotion that know how too treat people like human beings cannot get their promotions for years now. With no dorespect is maybe because of the hostile behaviour of other officers. With no disrespect which caused and continue too cause alot of the public too lose their trust and hope in policing.
Well, he will have his plate full.
There is another suit in the making that will soon be publicized. It been years in the making and has some very high ranking officers involved who attempted to pervert the course of justice. Grand Court will be involved.
From what I understand its a 7 figure settlement, plus the dismissal of the high ranking senior officers.
Hmmm, First off there should be a review into the Police Association.
1. How they raise their money.
2. How they expend their money
3. Who they support.
The association is racist and takes money out of officers overtime whether they choose to give it or not. The lead is currently under investigation for racist begaviour by the Ombudsman. Suggesting, as the commentor above does that there is some sort of ‘old boys’ club is ridiculous. The Ombudsman’s office holds the police to account.
The COP has brought this to his own door. He has done this because of significant failures of governance. He fails to promote because, quite frankly, those eligible are woefully inadequate. He simply cannot pronote based on someone passing an exam when their daily performance is below standard. Some of the issues here relate to significant lack of experience. Anyone seriously expecting to be promoted should have to gain experience in the UK first – especially for Inspector and above. The pace of policing and requirement to manage multiple high risk policing operations simultaneously would prove ability and test skills. Without experential learning here in Cayman it is the blind leading the blind. The COP knows they are inadequate but has done nothing to develop potential talent here. He also has no policy for significant areas of governance that will legally defend his position. It is fair to say there are unqualified officers acting up. How the COP has allowed this to continue while simultaneously failing to develop those who have passed exams leaves him open to criticism. Secondly, he has fundamentally failed to hold individuals to account. Case after case of Ombudsman recommendations lay on file. He has done nothing to maintain standards, I believe for fear of disciplining a Caymanian and the fallout that would follow from that. He has failed to deal with a significant fraud where officers have claimed overtime periods repeatedly for one period of work. This is open fraud within the service. Finally he treats people with no respect. This is across the board but more pointedly towards expat officers who he abjectly fails to support causing a high turnover and loss of officers who do have significant levels of experience. This includes paying them less than local officers and withholding eligible allowances. This can be seen through the sheer volume who leave directly related to his behaviour. Through these actions, he again breaches the law, in particular there are elements of racial discrimination that would be borne out through an equality assessment looking at rates of pay/allowances by rank, experience and ethnicity. He would be found to be racially discriminating against white expat officers who are frequently left on the bottom rung of pay deslite having qualifications and experience levels way above it. I note the police association are not supporting those officers despite taking money without authority, from their overtime.
Essentially, he has failed to govern the service and put any level of process or policy in place to manage even the most basic of functions. RCIPS is a basket case of ineptitude, operational incompetence and poor leadership. There is effectively no governance. He should be removed from post and a thorough HMIC review to sort out basic governance and improve the basic operational ability to a level that Caymanian people can rely. Until the Governor opens his eyes to the scale of incompetence within the service the people will not have a service that they rightly deserve.
Umm, if officers have been fraudulent in their record keeping, why have there not been any arrests? Would they not be stealing money from the public purse? WTF is this, 1920’s Chicago?
Good question.
Failure to discipline the Jamaican nationals even now with status should be reviewed.
hard to feel sympathy for byrne when you look at the lawless ness on the roads and his refusal to enforce basic traffic code.
bottom line is the police farce is like any other part of the civil service…..over staffed with underworked, over paid, poorly educated locals.
sorry if the truth hurts.
Well 7:17 you appear to suffer from the same sickness as our dearly beloved governor who can’t tell the difference between a Jamaican and a Cayman or are you just being sarcastic ! Yes the two functionally illiterate Caymanians left there do hurt other Caymanians,but that my friend is how the powers that be want it to be .Thank you for pointing it out though!
This is the real issue, too many expats come here and don’t know difference between Caymanian and Jamaican, they don’t know the true feelings Jamaicans have about them and have been encouraging gullible Caymanians to hate and blame Uk, English people for all our issues. Great tactic, take eyes off the people denying Caymanians opportunities, keeping Caymanians down and bringing them in to populate Cayman. Can’t blame that on UK, it is our leaders that have opened up floodgates to Jamaicans and made them the majority so they’re now too scared to take a stand before we see violence happening in Jamaica and probably even whats happening in USA
Locals? Have you counted how man local officers are on the force? Mostly Brits and other Caribbean nationalities. I am sure that Caymanians are the minority on the force.
Well well well the UK big plan to Modernize or cannibalize our police service has hit a little snag yet again yes you are absolutely right Truth 720pm. But now we have those ungrateful benefactors like you who sat by and let capable and uncorrupt local officers careers get destroyed so those just like you could get seconded and hired from elsewhere to fill and promoted up the ranks thinking it would never ever happen to you.? Are you not living well or satisfied with your new digs bro ? Yes even the great corruptors and criminal Architects and your mentors have been to move on and placed in other law enforcement and government departments or greener pastures where they are now doing the same very disruptive things as we speak and causing the very same chaos and mayhem which will no doubt lead to the very same outcomes you now complain about? Aaaah yes the old exam scam where your privileged peers of Mickey Mouse law school legal” exputs “ determine your promotion status ! Not much has change back then the” great corrupt criminal architects” who were in charge were handing out the promotion exams several weeks prior with Answers attached to their brethren and their little corrupt minions so they could cheat thereby getting fast tracked promotions to the upper level of their incompetence. NOw Now ! we will have no complaining about Dino the dinosaur or Barney Rubble and their alleged criminal transgressions cause Tempura would not even remedy nor touch that troubling situation for sake of embarrassing their very FCO /agent provocateur Supa secret Dennis da Menace and our extremely corrupt political /old byes aka ring crowd infrastructure who wanted their corrupt lickle Local boys to remain in place for name sake to have them and their interest protected and to fix certain situations where and whenever they arise and of course to carry news to keep them informed and in the know. Yes you are absolutely spot on if it was ever taken to court which I seriously doubt some might end up in jail but that would mean indicting the whole system which is never going to happen.and this very dynamic you so graciously outlined actually justifies the UK presence here in this British colonial overseas territory. Careful careful you awake the sleeping Lion and be devoured by his pride!
I wonder why there isn’t a story or piece on Caymanians in the school system here. Caymanians go into education to become teachers and get frustrated with the glass ceiling and just leave. If you’re not Jamaican and/or Seventh Day Adventist, teachers don’t get promoted. Very similar to what’s happening here. If you’re not part of the club, forget you!
This comment about education is spot on. I work in a school where 6/8 management positions are held by Jamaicans / SDA or both. Despite significant changes to personnel over the years, what hasn’t changed is that more SDA or Jamaicans get moved into those positions – often on an ‘acting’ basis with no prior interviews or open application process. They then remain as ‘acting’ for years and eventually get given the post without anyone else getting a chance to even apply.
How does the glass ceiling apply to the P.E teacher who went right to the top?.
Usually those PE teachers posts are taken up by the British teachers.
#6.51 Lay off the crack mate.
This is not Byrne. It would not matter who was in charge of the police now, the situation would be the same.
Caymanians marginalized in their own islands.
Caymanians have been marginalized in every significant area of society over the last 30 years. I have seen it with my own eyes. It started with expats being brought in to high government positions. These expats had their agenda: to grow Cayman so fast that the importation of thousands of foreigners would be required. Capitalism at its best.
This has happened now and if Caymanians are just sitting there shaking their heads saying WTF, they would be justified.
Now a ruling class is firmly in place, its politics defined and its agenda clear.
Cayman has fallen to the globalist agenda. Caymanians are now dispensable without impunity and we are teetering on the brink of a police state.
Even the press is almost totally compromised. Cayman Shackled Press toes the government/Dart line and the Snarl Road keeps the locals in check with gossip and non-stories.
Alas, I fear that our destiny is now dependent on our relationship with the Good Lord which is where it always should have been.
Every time Israel got complacent, shit happened. Well now is one of those times. I do not exclude myself. I am as guilty as anyone.
Get a real education and you might have a chance at a real job. Just because Cayman is full of uneducated fools doesn’t mean anyone wants to hire or promote them over an educated man.
Lots of uneducated and unexperienced foreigners come to these shores to work because they have a friend in a high position. They make 3-5 times what they would make back home, but are still so ungrateful. Lucky for you, there is a place that you can ridicule and slander Caymanians anonymously called CNS. I bet you or others that share your sentiment wouldn’t dare speak your mind in publicly. Rather, just hide in your circles and speak privately.
You missed the point completely.
Many of us experienced Cayman in the 70s and the police were not highly educated.
They did however know the difference between right and wrong and were respected.
My question is, do you?
I should start selling tinfoil hats around here… Police State lol.
Your pathetic, insulting ad hominem attack on my comprehensive statement demonstrates the measure of the person you are.
You have embarrassed yourself. Present facts and genuine rebuttals.
We will listen to you.
But no, the “tin foil f***ing hat” argument.
Leave Byrne alone and get back to work!
they weren’t doing work in the first place… thats the problem.
To be fair the Caymanian police officers are pretty sh!te. I’d be surprised if half of them could even pass the physical fitness test.
They can handle their own, it’s the foreign bastards they have trouble with.
There are only few Caymanian officers. We usually see a few hired during the annual recruitment drive to fill our civil service with Jamaicans. Caymanians are sent to office jobs or get fed up and leave. The British officers usually leave after contract up but you have Jamaican officers in service who’ve been there over 30 years refusing to retire or resign but they encourage Caymanians to do so. Caymanians needs to get honest about the obvious plan and remember its not too late to reverse and control this peacefully.
It’s only a costume
Very similar to the Fire Service. Individuals want to be the chief and can barely read and write. Make sure they are all competent government.
The locale airline does the same to its employees !
the local airline is a national embarrassment
Thank you Commissioner. The RCIPS had been failing for years until you arrived.
Promotion should be merit based and Caymanians should come first.
I support our commissioner.
Wait – so its doing better now?
not just Caymanains because of paper, too many with the paper hate the British and are convincing the gullible, less educated Caymanians to join their fight, in order to take control.
This has absolutely nothing to do with locals this is about empowering a certain group of who have overwhelmed our police service and now want even more power and control over our law enforcement policy and decisions. There is a dire need for a reduction of their influence now instead of giving even more control! How many Caymanians sit or make on this board. This Shit needs to stop Mr Byrne because you and your predecessors are responsible for what is happening here now!There is no way foreign nationals should have this amount influence and control over our police service,we could not do this in their country! I find it amazing with all our serious law enforcement issues we are now confronting we have individuals who are being paid more than they would ever be paid elsewhere now suing for greater remunerations and higher post Unbelievable only Cayman.only in Cayman
Makes sense why laws are not being enforced. Motivation is LOW..
Well besides the helicopter which circles for 1hr then the suspect escapes (I’ve seen for myself).
In any case, in this very practical job, high performance and competency has to be a part of promotion, not just passing an exam.
The COP, his two deputies and Chief Inspectors are very biased against Caymanians in general, hence why no promotions.
These bunch use section 6 of the Police Law like someone would use toilet paper.
They have policies in place but do not follow their own policies. The COP just does what he feels like and under advisement from his deputies.
These dinosaurs are a menace to the Police Service and are causing a great deal of mismanagement in their attempts to constantly cover their ass because they keep making 1980 type mistakes. It’s all about Job Security for them at any cost.
Put them out to pasture all ready.
Just like the promotion exam, your not allowed to see where you got answers wrong because the Training Head is part of the bunch and changes the scores at the direction of seniors.
The old boy network is alive and well in the RCIPS and are working overtime to keep the status quo.
I am sure if an idependant, proper, thorough and transparent investigation was undertaken by someone NOT connected to the ombudsman’s (the main investigator is ex RCIP and part of the group) or the FCO’s office their would be criminal charges filed in court.
Truth! Rubbish post. Caymanians are now getting the opportunities they deserved under this Commissioner.
Truth! Rubbish post. Caymanians are now getting the opportunities they deserved under this Commissioner.
I think the police association is the problem.
Thanks for the laugh. Cannot beat loud mouthed buffoonery. Fact checker 🤔 Not.
You talk absolute garbage. COP = Irish. Deluties = Jamaican and Caymanian. Supt = English and Caymanian. Substantive CI = All Caymanian (2 with status).
The COP recently let an English Supt go and replaced with a Caymanian.
The failure to promote is based on competence. Just because someone passes an exam proves nothing. What you do every day attesting to your actual ability will get you promoted. Sit on your arse doesn’t cut it.
The “replacement” Caymanian is actually an Acting Superintendent who has been doing the job long before the English Supt departed.
RCIPS is smoke and mirrors.
The point us no English replacement.
Truth- Truth is you are obviously a born Caymanian.Anything goes wrong, blame it on the Governor and the Police Commissioner.
I’m guessing he doesn’t like what he sees at the bottom? Lots of police out there can barely string a written sentence together so I can understand his trepidation. There are very few requirements to be a cop: a heartbeat, no criminal record, be over 18 and have somehow gotten through high school…and we all know the public school ratings don’t we?!!!
You missed out the nationality of origin requirement, and it ain’t Cayman.
They’re all Jamaican
You are right, if the requirements for promotion, like reading and writing, are not there, then the COP is right not to promote.
CNS, with the Covid on us, how do you suppose we pay these officer’s hike salaries?
We have enough police already. And we the People will be paying for them whilst many Caymanian civilians are out of jobs!
CNS: This is an article about the RCIPA suing the CoP. It’s not a viewpoint. Do you understand the difference?
The police, acting contrary to the regulations? Never! Governor?