Ombudsman supervising DoA probe into canine death

| 03/08/2022 | 57 Comments
Cayman News Service
RCIPS dog Baron

(CNS) UPDATED: The Department of Agriculture’s investigation into the unexplained death last month of Baron, a Belgian shepherd with the K-9 Unit, while he was in the George Town Police Station kennels is being supervised by the Office of the Ombudsman, CNS has learned, and Ombudsman Sharon Roulstone has said that the findings of the investigation will be made public. The death of Baron has caused outrage in the community as it is alleged the dog was left in a cage exposed to the sun without sufficient water.

The police have not yet commented on the accusations of neglect, but since they confirmed Baron’s death in response to a CNS inquiry, we have also learned that the dog’s usual handler is on extended leave and he had been left under the supervision of a police officer in the K-9 Unit that is not a trained dog handler.

The ombudsman’s office said that the police had reported Baron’s death to them when it was discovered on 9 July.

“We immediately opened an own-motion investigation (OMI) under section 3(2)(c) of the Police (Complaints by the Public) Act and instructed the Department of Agriculture to investigate K9 Baron’s death with our office supervising the investigation,” Roulstone said. “I cannot comment further as the investigation is ongoing but I do intend to make our findings public at the appropriate time.”

In comments on CNS and across social media, members of the public have raised numerous concerns about this death, such as how it could have happened and why the police were silent until they were asked about it. People have also voiced concerns that the DoA does not have the resources to investigate what happened to Baron or the wider issues relating to the current management of the K-9 Unit that could have led to Baron’s demise.

The K-9 Unit, which has three other dogs on active duty, is part of the RCIPS Specialist Operations and is under the ultimate supervision of Chief Superintendent Brad Ebanks. But no member of senior police management has made a statement about the death of Baron in response to the mounting public concern.

However, on Thursday in response to public pressure a spokesperson for the RCIPS released a brief statement in which it was made clear that they won’t be commenting.

“The RCIPS is aware of the public commentary regarding the death of Police K9 Baron. The matter has been referred to the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare and Control Unit for independent investigation. Following the investigation, a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. As this is an active investigation, no further comment will be made on the matter at this time,” the RCIPS stated.


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Category: Crime, Police

Comments (57)

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  1. Anon says:

    I suspect this investigation will be as fruitful as the investigation into the large amount of drugs stolen at the Police Station. Maybe this animal literally put its’ nose where it didn’t belong one too many times.

  2. Justice 4 Baron says:

    Who Kill Baron ? Come on Franz and Wayne give us the suspect name please Stop protecting and covering up for criminals it’s an offence to do so !

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    • Anonymous says:

      And what will you do with that name? How is the identity of the officer involved any of your business? It seems you’ve already decided that the officer is a criminal without evidence, without knowing the full circumstances, without having access to any information other than Cayman Marl Bile. Who says that there is any criminality at play here?Who appointed you judge, jury and executioner? Fool.

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      • Anonymous says:

        “Who says that there is any criminality at play here? Who appointed you judge, jury and executioner? Fool.”

        Ditto.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Who is leading the RCIPS media unit? This is a joke. No information, apart for some tripe about being concerned and thinking of the handler, only when it leaks out, then a release that says it was reported to DOA who are leading and a report will go to the DPP. Within hours, another update contradicting the first one saying it was reported to ombudsman, who reported to DOA. Does anyone have a clue what’s going on at the top of the RCIPS.

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  4. Anon says:

    Fact
    UK dog handler goes on vacation
    Leaves K9 in Caymanian officers care
    Which ended as a death sentence for the poor dog
    RCIP quiet as a church mouse
    Trying to work out how the hell to deal with it ?

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  5. Anonymous says:

    The dept of planning is a shit show but I hold hope knowing that if they were tasked with taking care of the little fella he would still be alive today. Laziness and lack of accountability is quickly running through all government departments which continue to hire staff who would not survive in the private sector.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Couldn’t agree more 10 pm—that is, the part about laziness and lack of accountability throughout most of government. It is a sad case that all these highly paid, high-powered govt officers are themselves not doing their job much less making sure those under them are doing theirs.

      I have a ringside view and I see it happening every day. Lots of cleaning up needed. And for God’s sake, no kicking upstairs.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Half of you probably do not know what it takes to care for a dog. There is certainly capable people who can manage the task.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Truly Cayman, people out here starving and we worried about police dogs?

    Use that $150,000.00 that will be spent on a futile investigation to feed poor people.

    Take a $5,000.00 out of that and get another dog. Ffs

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    • Anonymous says:

      Typical prick face comment

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    • Anonymous says:

      @ 5:06 – It’s people like you that don’t deserve to be on this earth. I said what I said. And I’ll say it again if need be.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Probably one of THE most despicable and low comments I have ever read. In my life. Wow, you seriously make me question my already dwindling faith in humanity.

  8. Anonymous says:

    How can we trust those uniformed nitwits with GUNS

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  9. Anonymous says:

    This isn’t a story about the death of an unwatered houseplant. You don’t need to be a Michigan-trained and certified K-9 instructor to know that caged animals need shelter, water, walk, love. Those are the basics due to any animal – which this was not. It was a highly trained and invested police asset. Someone senior approved the extended leave, and bears responsibility for loss of the partner. The level of incompetence is similar to if they’d landed a police helicopter on Seven Mile Beach during a Norwester and let it get carried away in overnight surf. All of this happened nearly a month ago.

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    • H3v says:

      I agree with almost everything you have said. The “approval of extended leave” is irrelevant.

      I have never had a pet and know nothing about dogs, but that dog would be alive if I was asked to take care of it. Pure neglect.

      Great journalism CNS.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    don’t bother…cig and the civil service does not do accountability.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This might not have been quite as bad if they had not spent so much time trying to decide whether to keep this under cover or not. Personally I can’t think of any reason for it to be kept secret so long.

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  11. Cayman Radar says:

    I hope for our sake the office of the ombudsman will truly overseas the DOA investigation by the ex RCIPS police officer who is now in charge at DOA because the history of “Tings” being sorted is way too convenient and common especially when daddy/ patna is the chief architect of the very ominous situation we now see in the New RCIPS and CBC now too Lets all Hope and prayeth for Justice to be done for our precious little police officer Baron Cayman . May his soul rest in eternal peace!

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Caymanian, Jamaican, Honduran, Caymanian, Jamaican, Honduran, Caymanian, Jamaican, Honduran, Caymanian, Jamaican, Honduran, Caymanian, Jamaican, Honduran.

    Nothing will happen to anyone for this animal cruelty.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    It has been 11 years after another police dog Misty was struck and killed by a car. Was investigation ever conducted?

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  14. Burning spear says:

    You ever wonder how our government thrives of failure another world class event by the DG’s Civil service! this unfortunately is not the first time and it would appear they have learned little or nothing from the previous situation. We should not be surprise at all take a good look at the current make up of the RCIPS i wonder if the police association will also be addressing this situation because Baron too is a serving Police officer! I won’t hold my breath cause it ain’t no money or benefit to get out of this situation for our foreign contingent in the RCIPS that’s for sure . Poor Baron RIP buddie!

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  15. Frustrated Caymanian says:

    Animal abuse and neglect is atrocious on this island. Sad to say but there’s not enough expats to rescue the results of local ignorance….shake your heads aholes.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    So sad. This is just pure criminal and incompetence at its best.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Thats a 5K dog that died of heat exhaustion! What a terrible way to kill an animal!

    I dont want to read a report, I want to read about animal cruelty charges sent to Court. These dogs are willing to die for their handlers, shouldnt be because of tbeir handlers.

    No accountability!

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  18. Anonymous says:

    If it was me, here is what I would do. Fire who and charge everyone and anyone who was responsible for the animal directly. Fire anyone who is responsible for those people and make an example of them. Its time for us to fix this police force. They are just terrible.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This starts with the Superintendent who issued the orders not to have the dogs at home and failed the K9 officers by not supporting what they needed to do. But it won’t happen as he’s Caymanian. And the Inspector in charge, But he’s also Caymanian. Notice a theme here. This is why they kept it quiet.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The word is accountability. Don’t expect that from the RCIP or any other CIG organisation for that matter. CYA is more likely.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry, we can’t do that. There wouldn’t be anyone left!

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Yes!

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  20. Anonymous says:

    This situation is not a joke and there needs to be some accountability. How on earth can these people be trusted with loaded firearms when they can’t even be responsible enough to ensure that a dog has clean fresh water. Also, if the dog didn’t have water for such a long period of time he most like also went without food for a long time. There needs to be some accountability.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Remember when the rozzers had a gunfire exchange in broad daylight on Seven Mile Beach recently?

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Any other country this would be an uproar. Fire the while crew responsible. But no. Im sure promotions all round next year.

    Im so ashamed.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    The silence from the police is deafening.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Another media house is describing “cleaners” as being afraid of the dogs and putting them outside. Then apparently no-one saw these important law enforcement assets until the evening when one was dead.

    Apart from anything else, who the hell these people that have access to obviously secure areas of law enforcement infrastructure, and on whom the police appear to be attempting to cast blame? Let me guess – minimum wage paid foreign workers working for a company owned by or connected to a politician or civil servant – with a lucrative contract to provide services to the RCIP and no insurance or liability for the destruction of property etc…

    Could this be another case of Jamaicans blaming Jamaicans while being paid to protect us from …

    Anything to prevent an actual civil servant from having any actual accountability.

    And the band plays on. And the Governor grins. And the Commissioner says the crime situation is stable.

    #Legge was right.

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    • Anonymous says:

      RCIPS needs a regime change. Unfortunately this is par for the course under the current leadership.

      They messing about with peoples self protection and saying “Trust us”but cant keep their own work dogs alive.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If that is true and these people were afraid of them, I cant see them handling them to move them then?

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  24. Anonymous says:

    The current Office of the Ombudsman is what Cayman has needed for years! Proud and encouraged by the recent work, ethic, decisions and reports coming out of that office by all involved. Finally! Bravo! Ole!

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