Death or jail awaits gangsters, warns CoP Walton

| 29/01/2024 | 70 Comments
Commissioner-Designate Kurt Walton, Cayman News Service
Police Commissioner Kurt Walton

(CNS): Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton has warned local gangsters that the current tit-for-tat violence and increase in tensions will only end in their death or being locked up if they do not stop. After another man was shot multiple times in the stomach on Friday morning in West Bay, Walton said that anyone who remembers a similar spate of killings in September 2011 doesn’t need to be reminded of what can occur when “these tensions reach a tipping point”.

While the RCIPS has not yet given much information about the escalation in gang tensions and shootings over the last few months, CNS understands that the current tit-for-tat gun violence is tied to unsolved gang-related murders.

“In response to these increased tensions and recent shooting incidents, including the murder on 21 January, the RCIPS Senior Command Team met [Friday] morning to develop a coordinated response focused on disrupting the activities of those persons involved, preventing further incidents from occurring, and arresting and prosecuting those who commit these crimes,” Walton said.

“This will involve targeted police operations, along with increased armed patrols. I want to reassure the public that we remain committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on these islands and are working to rapidly contain the situation.”

Walton then warned the young men involved of their fate if they do not stop the violence. “This type of violence will only end in one of two ways: with you in jail or dead,” he said. “I am also appealing to everyone in the community who may have information about persons involved, whether they are an acquaintance, a friend or even a family member. Come forward and provide whatever information you may have, no matter how small. You may just be saving the life of someone you care about.”

Walton also asked, on behalf of his team, for the community’s cooperation as police operations continue. “As always, let us all come together as a community to do what we can to preserve the safety of our home for everyone within it,” he added.

Travis Alexander Ebanks (29) was the first person to be killed this year in this spate of violence. So far, no one has been arrested in connection with his murder or in connection with the unidentified man shot several times in West Bay on Friday morning.


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Category: Crime, Police

Comments (70)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Why don’t you just get real police that can enforce the laws? Seems simple. Hint, hire somewhere other than Jamaica.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Hmmm. It’s been over a week since this statement by the commissioner. Maybe it did get the ‘gangstas’ thinking after all.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I trust the police in Cayman less than the “gangsters”

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  4. Elvis says:

    Have you seen the train wreck state of cars driving on our roads? Police are not enforcing anything. Black tint. No lights . Not roadworthy at all and the police just laughing at each other as the so called vehicles pass them. Waste of space already. Get it done mr police commissioner

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  5. Anonymous says:

    This is as comical as a little kid saying to a big bully, “I’m going to tell my momma on you”.
    When did police warnings ever stop criminals? More likely they’ll become even more brazen as a result of these wimpy words. Sad to say the situation is much worse than the comish and his gang of keystones are able to mitigate.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Death awaits all of us. Jail is a potential, based on the driving I see here. Then I remember I’m in Cayman, where enforcement of rules isn’t a thing. This is why we’re where we are.

    The criminal element here are not exactly MENSA candidates. It says more about the culture and effectiveness of the judicial system than anything else.

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  7. Road laws and police enforcement do not correspond says:

    enforce the laws Mr. Walton from the someone to the biggest I don’t see that happening on our roads.band dark tent on windshield dont trun your head.if you can’t do that you can’t control the wannabe socall gangster.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile, recidivists, violent criminals, and gang members are granted early release due to capacity issues, and make bail on reoffence – even those who have skipped in the past. Police are nowhere to be found.

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    • Anonymous says:

      that has nothing to do with police, more like the judges deciding they can be released

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    • Anonymous says:

      Need to ban men from covering their head completely with only the eyes not covered with dark glasses on. We think Only Jamaicans do that and we know they are ruining these islands.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Escalating violence won’t stay isolated forever. The gangsters care not if an innocent person is injured or killed.

    Best think twice about where you party late at night.

    Thuggery is rising. One has to wonder if the burglaries and robberies are connected to gangs.

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    • Anonymous says:

      ABC news this morning had travel advisories on violent crime in Turks Bahamas/Nassau, and of course Jamaica.
      We’re next it seems….thanks Mac, Kenneth, Saunders, Seymour.

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  10. Junior says:

    Most of the so called wanksters wont even understand this article. They cant read

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Has anyone else noticed that the big shots in the illegal drugs networks are untouchable? Not only are they never arrested or prosecuted, our politicians refuse to make any changes to our laws that might make the drug barons uncomfortable.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Have to agree with you on that one. The police know who they are, the community know who they are. Ever wondered why Cannabis seems to get recovered every week but the price and availability of Cocaine remains low and high respectively. They’re protected and close to the crooks in suits.

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    • Anonymous says:

      most of them are out drinking and socializing with the politicians..

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Mr Walton, I have to ask, seriously, what are we hoping for here ? – that the gangstas are organising weekly gimme story nights with your press releases being read to them during the interval ?

    This one’s on me, they’re not listening or reading and they don’t f****** care. What I’m seeing here isn’t much more than plagiarising Ms Owens hard line, a waste of time 🤷🏻‍♀️

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    • Anonymous says:

      Right on 8.12.
      A man in Mr Walton’s position is required to make such a statement, but now he has to put his words into action.
      Doing something about it is the next step required of a man in his position. Lip service ain’t gonna cut it.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    I would like to see a CNS Headlines that reads

    “All violent criminals in the Cayman Islands are now in prison and will remain there for at least the next 25 years.”

    Unfortunately I do not see any possibility that our politicians will allow the steps that are necessary to make that happen let alone work to make these islands safe.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Today’s CNN has a warning for our island – lock these criminals up permanently or watch our tourism and financial services sectors and the lives of all of us – die

    https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/29/travel/state-department-travel-warning-crime-bahamas/index.html

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  15. Anonymous says:

    The prison system here is luxury compared to other countries and laws are slack. These thugs expect to die by gun violence anyway so it’s hardly a deterrent to them. Sucks for the rest of us that have to live amongst it.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    In related news, water is wet.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Leave them alone and let them kill each other off. Good riddance.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Problem is that as fast as they are killing each other off they are also procreating and the cycle continues.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    imagine if there were actually police around patrolling areas???? this “wait until something happens then show up hours later” doesnt really seem to be working.

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  19. Anon says:

    When is the last time there was actually a significant drugs bust that wasn’t cocaine washing up on shore? Why is there never “significant seizure of cocaine/ ganja at house” or “stop and search of car”?

    If there’s no drugs money, there is less to shoot people over.

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  20. anon says:

    All these killers if caught and convicted should be sent to the UK to do their time. Cut them off from family and friends.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Talk is cheap
    Like an animated cartoon the politicians should be held upside down and shaken so all those millions upon millions of budget surplus dollars fall out and be invested in quality Singapore style Surveillance across the island and A.I. human tracking to actually stop these reoccurring crimes.
    What will happen… more talk is cheap talk. Maybe next speech use 1980s quotes to get criminals really nervous like “knuckle sandwich” and “I’m going to pump you up.”

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Uuuuw, your warning is certainly going to put the fear of god in them criminals. I think not. Besides if they do go to jail, it won’t be for life will it? And we don’t have capital punishment here. So really they’re just going to laugh at your warning.

    Maybe do like cops do in the USA. If they have a gun or offensive weapon and don’t put it down then let ‘em have it. But somehow can’t see you authorising shooting to kill either. Remember, in our society criminals have rights, so think more than good citizens.

    So be realistic, what are your options, hope they just keep killing each other and eventually wipe themselves out? That sounds like what you really mean isn’t it?

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Today in wonderland: more fiction.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Sad that these cowardly hooligans butcher themselves like animals.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    when the police can arrest and successfully prosecute the people that stole millions in drugs from under their nose, then the public might start having hope. until then, miss me with that providing details to police about these crazy trigger happy people.

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  26. Some guy with odd shoes says:

    Most of us are behind you Mr. Kurt. You won’t, of course, read that here, but those I’ve talked with around me believe in you.

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  27. They're not smart enough to listen. says:

    Kurt, you’re talking about total idiots here, so don’t expect these little knuckleheads to listen. These guys live on a small island where prosperity and opportunity are there for the taking if they just apply themselves and make an effort. They do not live in an American inner-city or a South American slum, or a Brazilian favela, yet they act like that is exactly where they are. They’ve adopted a thug life in a place that shouldn’t have thugs. CI government and innumerable businesses are throwing money at scholarships, offering internships and providing opportunity after opportunity. In such a small country with such a small population, the opportunities are attainable for those that work for them. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunities available to them, these idiots CHOOSE to be wanna-be gangsters, like they’re cosplaying or something.

    The expats are coming here, having and raising kids here, and THEY are the ones taking advantage of the opportunities here. While some of our dumb dumbs go around playing badman. Idiots.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Jamaican / Honduran status grants and their brats. Pretty straight forward equation.

      This is what happens. Diversity is a strength though.

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      • Anonymous says:

        it’s also those Jamaican/Honduran status grants and their brats doing all the work you and your lazy inbred brats won’t do all well. #Caymankind though.

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      • Anonymous says:

        No local homegrown Caymanians involved then? Duh!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Unfortunately college grads are still unable to obtain work for which they have studied for.

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      • Caymanian says:

        Sorry but that is a defeatist attitude. You’re basically saying that making the effort to educate oneself if not worth it. Bull. We should strive for and encourage an educated Caymanian populace. Educated and underemployed is still way better than being uneducated and adopting a thug life that is necessary only in one’s imagination.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Grads in what, from where..?
        California Coastal on line worthless piece of paper..?

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        • Anonymous says:

          Yeah, every Caymanian studies at the exact place you are thinking of, and every immigrant goes to Yale. 🙄

  28. Anonymous says:

    I mean, to be fair to the criminals, they are taking care of our problem themselves.

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