Byrne passes the baton to Caymanian CoP
(CNS): Two decades after the retirement of Buel Braggs, the only Caymanian to hold the post of RCIPS commissioner of police until now, outgoing CoP Derek Byrne literally handed the baton to the new commissioner, Kurt Walton, who has been with the service since 1986. Having been sworn into office by Acting Governor Franz Manderson on Friday, Walton hit the ground running with the Cayman Islands’ third murder this year earlier that morning.
That was followed on Saturday by a major joint operation to rescue Cuban migrants who were shipwrecked off Cayman Brac.
After Walton was sworn in as commissioner and chief officer for the Office of the Commissioner of Police (OCP), Manderson offered his congratulations on behalf of everyone on the appointment. “We are delighted to have a Caymanian as head of the RCIPS, and we wish you every success,” he said.
On Sunday, the RCIPS held a Change of Command Ceremony to celebrate the achievements of their outgoing CoP and to welcome Walton. In his parting remarks, Commissioner Byrne said, “The achievements I made in the Cayman Islands within the seven years that I was commissioner of police far surpassed the many years that I have spent and worked elsewhere. The Cayman Islands is fortunate to have resources and capabilities that other parts of the world do not, and so development has proven to be far less difficult.”
He added, “Working with Commissioner Walton over the years has allowed me to see the talent and capabilities that he has, and it will be exciting to see what new ideas he will bring to the organisation as commissioner of police. I know that he will excel and that the OCP is in excellent hands,” Byrne added.
Byrne then passed on the RCIPS baton, which dates back to 1952 and represents the passing of responsibilities from one commissioner to another.
Walton said of Byrne, “His willingness to do what he can to make this transition process as smooth as possible for me speaks to the kind of man he is and the leader that we have had for the last seven years. The Cayman Islands will always welcome you with open arms.”
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Category: Crime, Local News, Police
Bracker living overseas and grew up with Kurt. He’s a fine gentleman with rock solid principles, courage, commitment, and honor. He is the right person for the job. Congrats my fellow bracka and make the Cayman Islands proud of selecting you.
Congrats Kurt. I knew you from the Brac PWD,You were a smart young nice man from then and I knew you would go far when you joined the Police Service. Congrats again and all the best to you. From a Bracker
Congratulations Commissioner Walton. Our last local Commissioner was an embarrassment, please don’t repeat.
Kurt is a fine man. Let’s hope the passing to him of the Braggs Baton doesn’t prove to be a poisoned chalice.
Where Byrne failed.
If Kurt can sack all the corrupt RCIP employees who leak
Private information/ statements and details to CMR.
That would be a start.
Until then nobody in there right mind will help or trust giving their details or information to the RCIP.
If he can demonstrate that the RCIPS isn’t politically influenced where it won’t breathalyse an MP from the government coalition that would be a start. However given the same man was a senior officer at the time – and come to think of it was in the senior command at the same time said MPs spouse avoided any investigation over a claimed breach of curfew restrictions – I won’t be holding my breath.
…and they already start to blame him for Byrne’s shortcomings.
Yawn,
Does anyone think this will do anything to improve the general level of effectiveness at the RCIPS?
I don’t know the man personally but looking around the islands and thinking back to where we were 7 years ago, I can’t help but conclude that Byrne was a complete waste of space…
We have a lot of officers and spend a tonne of money, but results are always lacking.
Why is that?
Because people refuse to act and behave civilized. simple
Of course, Kurt has been there 37 years so …..
Congratulations Kurt!
please now weed out all the illerterate Jamaican useless police officers.
no foreal. they cannot effectively stop crime when the criminals are their buddies.
Oh the irony 😄😄😄
Then you’ll be left with a few UK and Canadian cops and precious little else.
What a wonderful post, 5:32! Pity about the “illerterate” spelling of illiterate!!
Congratulations! Wishing for every success
Good luck Kurt. Be strong and put your own mark on the job. If you can fix recruitment training and public reassurance which are absolutely broken you won’t go far wrong.
Too little too late. Half the island is Jamaican, they don’t care about this Caymanian and keeping his Island safe. They care about their families back home.
The fox is in the hen house. Accept it. Either mass deportations and revocation of status or it will continue.
It’s really that simple.
Stop the flights that is easier to achieve politically maybe?
Fantastic news! It’s about time. Congratualations Kurt!
Ahh to be jaded.
Congratulations Kurt , you are an upright well deserving candidate for this post and we wish you every success.
So what’s Kurt’s view on automatic breathalyzing of anyone involved in a traffic accident?
bryner tried his best at the start but lost all respect for him after closing beaches during lockdown and then his reaction to jon-jon incident.
You can hardly blame him for the Jon Jon incident when the Premier shows up on the scene to influence how it was handled can you ?
Actually you can. He’s the damn head of the RCIPS and reports to the governor, not Wayne. If the police aren’t independent of the pols, we will end up like BVI or the Turks.
If you knew the rich man politics on island you would know why many things were not corrected. Derek was a top notch leader with little support. How about drug dogs boarding all private jets? Wonder why that did not happen……
cop…a poisoned chalice for sure.
needs to weed out all the lazy local and jamiacan officers …which is an impossible task
Get rid of the Jamaican officers yes and send them back with all the Jamaican teachers too, for a better Cayman.
Monumental moment!!!! Congrats Kurt! God bless you and give you wisdom.
True, but he’s taken on a monumental responsibility. Let’s hope he’s as steadfast as his ceremonial sword.
there is only one relevant question.
is he the best person available for the job?
Yes he is. Unequivocally. This is one case where regardless of being Caymanian or not, he is the best person for this job given his education, training, experience and standard of executed work. He commands the respect of the service and he knows this country inside out. Well done Kurt, long overdue!
Was Byrne?
Yes, he is. Next question please.
Such fantastic news! This is a man who walks a straight line, no grey area for him, and understands the needs of our Cayman community at every level like the back of his hand. He is known to be very collaborative, and his legal training along with his 30 plus years of policing will undoubtedly be exactly what we need in a Police Commissioner.
No gray area for him? does that extend to watching others in the force swim in the grey and even black areas? Didn’t see protests or any action from him after the Seymour incident. It’s ok to be personally moral but stay silent in the face of misconduct by others? Sounds pretty damn grey to me.
well there’s a couple steps that need to happen immediately. firstly there needs to be actual traffic police 24 hours a day. secondly you need to look at the corruption of your own officers. No one reports anything for fear of retribution because someone’s cousin always works for the police force.
Congratulations Kurt! We are so incredibly proud of you. Your police work over the decades speaks for itself, and we can think of no better person for the job. You ensured you received the requisite training and expertise before you went for the top job, and rest assured you have earned it. We are in the best hands regardless of your nationality, but the fact that you are one of us makes this appointment even sweeter! You are an excellent example for all of our Caymanians. May God bless you as you embark on what will definitely be a difficult role, but one in which the country will support you.
I don’t know this man so have no reason to doubt your words but can you give some examples of “Your police work over the decades speaks for itself” because they don’t speak for themselves if we don’t know what he has done. Thanks.
You need only do a modicum of research of news and police archives (all online), as well as speak to people who have lived here over the years and know his work and character. As a Detective, he solidly got cases over the finish line with successful convictions and lead the team successfully as Chief Inspector. He spent time in every district across these islands, and knows exactly what makes it tick from a criminal and enforcement level. As Deputy Commissioner he has repaired relations with neighbouring countries so that they work together in getting criminals off the streets and put away. He personally sought all the training possible and available to make sure he was ready for this job before throwing his hat in the ring. Speak to any officer worth their salt and they can tell you what an upstanding man Kurt Walton is in both a professional and personal sense. An excellent example for all of our Caymanians of what you can achieve, both young and old. Boy from the Brac, came to GC as a young adult and look at what he has achieved. An incredible, significant moment for all of Cayman.
“You need only do a modicum of research of news and police archives (all online)” – well I’ve just wasted 15 minutes looking and can’t find anything in press articles besides comments regarding arrests. Certainly can’t find any RCIPS archives. Whatever. I wish him luck none the less.
It took me two minutes to find this: https://caymannewsservice.com/2015/04/who-will-be-caymans-next-top-cop/
Check out the above nugget including the comments, where even from 2015 there was a cry for Kurt to become Commissioner – his abilities and experience were recognised from then.
As I understand it, Kurt did not apply to the top job then as he wanted to gain experience first as Deputy Commissioner and get more training – which is exactly what happened over the last seven years.
Incidentally, one may want to enquire who was the officer behind the scenes that was instrumental in getting a successful conviction for McKeeva…
We can sleep easy at night knowing that, regardless of nationality, we have the best person in the important role of Police Commissioner in the Cayman Islands.
That will be the successful conviction for common assault- which conveniently wouldn’t ban Mac from standing for parliament, rather than ABH which would – given the crystal clear video evidence? Bit of a slam dunk evidentially, with the only factor being the decision to actually carve and what to charge. And not charging given the wide public circulation if the video…..No, I think I’d hold off off congratulating him on that one, assuming it’s him that made the decision.
The decision of whether and what to charge is for the DPP, not police.
Congrats Kurt. I knew you from the Brac PWD,You were a smart young nice man from then and I knew you would go far when you joined the Police Service. Congrats again and all the best to you. From a Bracker