Caymanian finally set to take over as CoP
(CNS): Deputy Police Commissioner Kurt Walton has said he is under “no illusions” about what he faces when he is promoted to the post of police commissioner before the end of the year. Almost two decades since a Caymanian last held the top job in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Walton secured the appointment after an open recruitment process. He will also be the chief officer in the commissioner’s office and oversee the Cayman Islands Coast Guard.
The recruitment for the post was conducted by the Police Service Commission, which announced the appointment on Wednesday. The PSC said that as the commissioner-designate, Walton will participate in professional meetings with various policing bodies within the UK.
He will also represent the Cayman Islands at the British Overseas Territories Commissioners of Police (BOTCOP) meeting, as retiring CoP Derek Byrne hands over the reins and Walton transitions into the post. Officials have not said exactly when that will be but have indicated it will be later this year.
But as he takes on the job, the battle against crime is as challenging as ever, with another spike in armed robberies, gang violence and a surge in acquisitive opportunistic crime. The police are also dealing with traffic offences, as poor driving standards across the islands are leading to high numbers of serious crashes and fatalities.
Despite the daunting task ahead, Walton said he was grateful for the trust and confidence shown in him to lead an organisation with so many hard-working and inspiring people.
“I am under no illusion what is required of the commissioner of police and understand the tremendous responsibility and accountability that comes with the role,” he said in a release announcing his appointment. “I have always given my utmost best in serving my country and the people of the Cayman Islands. I am passionate about policing, and it’s been that way over the past 36½ years.”
Walton added, “I have a very clear vision, and that is to keep Cayman safe, and to do so, I must understand the threats. I recognise the importance of partnerships in this vision and will continue fostering existing and new relationships locally, regionally and internationally. Along with my senior leadership team and our staff, we will continue with our ongoing efforts towards a modernised police service and coast guard which delivers quality services to the people we serve.”
Walton, who was born in Cayman Brac, has served with the RCIPS for more than three and a half decades, having joined in 1986. He has been deputy commissioner for more than seven years and has strategic responsibility for all policing and security, as well as oversight of operational policing, including all units within the detective and uniform branches of the RCIPS.
Before that, from 2013 to 2016 he served as chief superintendent and from 2007 to 2013 he was superintendent in charge of Specialist Proactive Operations.
Walton completed his Senior Investigators training in Barbados in 1997. From 2002 to 2008, he attended the Cayman Islands Law School (University of Liverpool) while working full-time, earning his Bachelor of Law degree (LLB Hons). He also has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice and Police Management from the University of Leicester, UK.
After training in the International Command Programme in the UK in 2007, Walton became certified as a Strategic Gold Firearms Commander in 2011. In 2014 he returned to the UK and completed a Strategic Command Course that focuses on executive leadership training for assistant and chief constable positions.
Since then, he has completed his Multi-Agency Gold Incident Command Training (MAGIC/UK) and a National Security course delivered by RMA Sandhurst‘s Faculty of Leadership, Security and Warfare and the Department of Defense and International Affairs. He has also undertaken professional courses at the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Law Enforcement Executive Development in Virginia, USA.
Jane Owen, who as governor chairs the commission that oversaw the recruitment process, said she looked forward to working with him at “this crucial time” and offered her gratitude to Byrne, who has been in the job for seven years.
Despite the criticisms of Byrne over the years, Owen, who has been here less than two months, said he had “built a police service ready to meet the challenges of the coming years” and described him as dedicated to the people of Cayman and a tenacious crime fighter who had left a strong legacy “from which we will all benefit”.
Byrne, who has been part of the succession planning that led to the first Caymanian in more than 18 years to take charge of the RCIPS, said that Walton was an “outstanding, experienced and committed colleague”.
The outgoing CoP said that his replacement had a unique understanding of the policing requirements in the Cayman Islands, having risen through the local ranks.
“I wish Kurt well as he moves to take on this new demanding and challenging role. He will succeed with the support of the government and the support of the community. I wish Kurt great success in the years ahead as he takes the RCIPS from good to great,” Byrne added.
- Fascinated
- Happy
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- Bored
- Afraid
It may help to have a Gun Amnesty program recurring every 6 months.
Well, appointing a Caymanian will hopefully stop any bs that the RCIPS performance being because it’s run by a foreigner. And about time we had the force commanded by a local. But all you posters who think things are going to magically change because the COP is a Caymanian, remember this guy has been in the force for decades and the deputy commissioner for 7 years. He’s a well entrenched part of the existing system. Very experienced cops coming in from overseas and with no local baggage or connections couldn’t turn it around. You think a guy that embedded who has been the 2 oc for 7 years is going to wave a wand?
Mr. Walton. Please expand the traffic police department and have more traffic officers prosecuting and ticketing these rogue drivers and dangers drivers without delay.
Impound these vehicles they are driving and make the roads safe again.
Congratulations Kurt!!!!! Awesome news. God bless you as you take up the reins of the RCIPS.
The release should have also mentioned he is a football star! Represented Cayman nationally over the years in his youth. And I understand he still plays on a rec league.
In all seriousness, he is the only person who has the respect, experience and credentials to do this job. You have our utmost support, Kurt.
Go Boogie!
Congrats! I truly wish for you to succeed. I honestly understand the monster of a task you have deserving taking on. However, I also know that one of the biggest ills for the RCIPS, regardless of who heads up the post especially if it is a Caymanian, is this matter.
RCIPS biggest downfall is lack of diversity. Too much of one nationality, like HSA, leaves people feeling that they are not being protected and the lack of empathy and overall concern for the well-being of the country’s people, EXCEPT, those from the dominant nationality on the force, how can the RCIPS ever be looked at favorably by Caymanians and all other residents who care about the growing degradation of this country?
Therefore, your first task should be to see that the force is a true representation of our diverse Caymanian society by removing those on the force who see it as a social mobility tool to get their permanency in our country and in it also for the good ole Caymanian Dollar and not what they can do for the betterment of our country. Get rid of these officers and hire those from more developed countries, after thorough due diligence on such prospective officers, that will bring back the respect and confidence that the RCIPS so need at the moment and will only get back if you follow suite on this suggestion.
Please use proper and careful due diligence when hiring the officers that you are going to need support from and rid the force of nepotism/net working that seem to be the only criterion for getting hired into the RCIPS if you are of the dominant nationality that is currently ‘ruling’ the RCIPS.
In summary, fire all the non-Caymanians who may actually be excellent employees for entitlements.
3.01pm So true. However the H/R reqruitment managers from Jamaica also need to go as they are part of the problem.
Congrats Kurt
If your first job can be preventing your staff releasing
Private details of victims and witnesses and their statements to Cayman Marl Road
That would be a good start !
Congrats Kurt.
You are a smart all around good man. you deserve the CoP post and i know you will do a good job. Congrats again,all the best. From a co- worker that used to worked at Brac PWD.
In what is most certainly a thankless role, we have the very best to take the helm. Kurt is a very decent individual – fair, balanced, honest, thoughtful and intentional. He truly cares about the residents of these islands but equally he cares about ensuring the law is followed. There is no grey area where he is concerned, and that is exactly what you want from someone who is heading up the police service of the jurisdiction. Kurt is respected by all, from within and outside the service, he has risen through the ranks putting time, effort and immense dedication into making sure he does the best work possible. Kurt has made sure he has received the requisite training, not only to head up the service but to be a good leader and manager. He knows this role will be no easy feat, as he has a lot of cleaning up to do within the service – but he is ready to put his best foot forward.
Let’s not do our usual “crabs in a bucket” mentality and let us give him our full support. His success is ours. Having seen what other Commissioners across the region have done, Kurt will outshine them all – he has observed and learned, and will put those lessons to good use to benefit our country.
Hope he puts a stop to this lame excuse the police always use – “we can not do anything because it is a civil matter”.
What about the favoritism shown by police officers of a certain nationality towards others from their own country? It is really getting out of hand now. Can’t they recruit police from somewhere else besides that Caribbean nation?
2.59 Try to recruit more Barbadian officers. Some of the best officers we have ever had came from Barbados.
Yes! Halt the Jamaican recruitment.
boogie to the top!
Will he be mandating that all persons involved in single vehicle disagreements with light poles be breathalyzed?
Nah. The powerful and lodge bros need not worry
Jon Jon ain’t lodge! But Wayne is so I guess that’s why he was called to the scene
What scene 11.47?
Jon Jon’s date with the light pole
He has already been Deputy CoP for 7 years and learning how to milk it and stay quiet for 36, including years managing the part time seasonal Traffic Dept. He was in the senior management corridors for the West Bay evidence locker breach. Seems we should manage our performance expectations based on the track record in hand. Being from the Brac, it appears as though he was the only senior local candidate in line to cement the status quo of untouchable political and donor class corruption, and the continuation of the not so secret transshipment economy. The public deserves transparency on the nomination criteria and dossiers of others that might have been under consideration, including (one would hope) an entire planet of seasoned crime fighters that might have brought a different approach to re-energizing public/stakeholder trust and confidence. Political and public interest are clearly well out of alignment. We are hungry to be dazzled.
You are not one of us. Be happy alone with your misgivings.
You clearly have no idea of what you are talking about and have not come across the detailed work of the Commissioner-designate. As someone who has had to prosecute for the Crown, we knew evidence brought in by Mr. Walton when he was a Chief Inspector for some of the country’s most notorious criminal cases was effectively conducted and properly collected, and would stand up in the court room. He is well respected across both the legal fraternity and the judiciary.
Don’t hold your breath
To 9.21. Obviously you wanted things to continue with a Brit as head of RCIPS.Stop beating around the bush and say what you mean..
Good points
Fix the lazy traffic cops. And get some damn cops to patrol prospect!
Hope he’s more effective than the last Caymanian CoP – Waste-of-Space Braggs!!
OMG!! I’m still awaiting Inspector Kurt Walton to address my report of a cash robbery in BT while I actually followed the perp as he travelled on a bus to GT, watched him get off in Central GT. I stayed on the phone with RCIPS the entire way.
That was around 2 pm one afternoon.. Around 9:30pm that night Insp. calls me “I hear you have info on a robbery for us?” I’m still waiting for RCIPS to come get my statement. Around 16 years ago now!!
Any follow-up Commissioner-Designate Walton??
Your story smells funny…why didn’t you follow up if you had pertinent information?
15 @ 8:47pm – why would I? To get the same action after my office was burgled? Show up and do prints then go silent?
That was a few years prior!!
Give him a chance. Lets see what happens with RCIPS under his leadership. Revisit the crime stats in a year – we shall see.
While I wish you the best Mr. Walton, you have a monumental tasks ahead of you.
Um, he has been in a supervisory position for 7 years now. How’s that working out for you?
Which means he could only do so much, he is head honcho now. So we will see
We shall see what this native Bracker will do for the escalating crime on his native Brac.
Hopefully he will put some fire under Chief Inspector Kay and Sergeant Ferguson – and get them to do something besides collecting a paycheck.
I wish him well as he deserves the chance. His effectiveness will depend on whether he is able to manage the officers and clean up a lot of the mess. Too many officers from our neighboring country who think they run things – find a good balance in nationalities and make sure officers are trained well and you will be successful.
Congrats, good luck in one of the most challenging roles
Congratulations Commissioner Designate Kurt Walton. From all that I’m aware of you deserve this and I hope we will all lend our support to help with the growing need for more law and order.
The only possible appointment and a good one. Popular with the rank and file too. Big job on his hands though. RCIPS desperately needs some direction and some supervisors pulled into line.
I reserve judgement until I see a few politirkians jailed!
This is a position that no one can succeed at. Everyone bitches about this and that whether you are foreign or Caymanian. That’s why Ennis, smart man, didn’t want it. Walton is a very fine choice but eventually even Caymanians will get pissed off with him when he doesn’t solve all the problems in Cayman created by 45 years of unbridled growth set in train by Jim Bodden.
Congratulations to Kurt but public need work and help the police to reduce crime as people knows who are the criminals.
This is the best news I have seen in quite some time.
Finally WORC CBC and Police are all headed by capable Caymanians. The fire service is also headed by a capable Caymanian. The Ombudsman is Caymanian. Our Chief Justice is Caymanian. Time for our Auditor General to be a Caymanian. Time will tell whether the current AG has trained up a Caymanian as well as Mr Byrne has.
6:35. Well said!!
congrats to Mr Walton. He is an excellent role model for young Caymanians.
I look forward to the day when we have our own Auditor General. Like Bermuda!
If WORC is headed by someone capable, why do they not “Work”. Is it political interference that prevents them from processing anything in a reasonable period of time?
Can only echo the other comments. A good forward thinking police officer, a decent man and a Caymanian that can positively inspire young people. Well done Mr Kurt.
Commander Kurt you have reached where you are by the goodness and Mercy of the Great Architect . Carry his teachings in your heart and you will do well. Best Wishes. Shalom.
Cheers Kurt, let’s hope you and Brad can get us out of this fine mess Cayman is into.
Excellent… Kurt is a good man and should atone for the shameful behavior of our previous Caymanian who abandoned ship during Ivan.
But, 4:49, in that time honored Caymanian way, was not fired but “retired” on full benefits.
Kurt is a good man and a dedicated, talented police officer, as many who worked with him over the years will know. Congratulations, well deserved!
Could not be more proud of our son of the soil. Well deserved and long overdue. Kurt, you have earned this role and you will continue to make all Caymanians and the residents of these islands proud.
Kurt would be a top cop anywhere else in the world as well
Long over due for the position he’s got what it takes and the respect
A good man and a serious cop, in a hard and unforgiving role. I for one send my congratulations to Comm Walton and wish him all the best.
But it depresses me to anticipate the bigoted comments about to flow on this site.
Actually I don’t think you will see that many negative comments. This is not a case of someone being promoted to tick a box. Kurt is a proven officer, who is well liked across all segments of the police and Cayman in general.
Good going Kurt, keep up the good work!
Well, let’s give him a chance. The corruption at all levels of society will be a challenge, as will the inept DPP and sleepy judges. Glad low-energy Byrnes is gone. He leaves a mess behind.
I remember when they brought him here he was the be all end all was going to be the best thing for Cayman so his Portfolio said I think crime actually went up
Welcome and good luck, I can say with all confidence…. He can’t make the RCIP any less efficient.
Brackaaaa! FINally! Have been calling for this for many years. Very proud of you Mr. Kurt. God bless and keep you safe.