Senior Cayman Islands police officers placed on leave
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| Published on Friday, March 28, 2008 |
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GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: The Governor of the Cayman Islands, Stuart Jack, announced on Thursday that he has put three senior police officers on required leave to facilitate enquiries into allegations against officers of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS).
Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan, Deputy Commissioner Rudolph Dixon and Detective Chief Superintendent John Jones were put on required leave with immediate effect to enable an investigating team from the Metropolitan Police Service led by DCS Martin Bridger to proceed with their enquiries.
This action follows a separate investigation by Bridger’s team into serious allegations made against the Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis and the editor in chief of Caribbean Net News Desmond Seales.
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| Governor of the Cayman Islands, Stuart Jack |
“The investigating team has shown that these allegations were false. However, in the course of their original investigation certain other matters have come to light which now, in the interest of protecting the high standards of the RCIPS, we must look into,” the governor explained.
Although the governor said that it could cause “some anxiety”, he urged the community to look at the positive outcomes of these matters: “It sends a clear signal that regardless of position, serious allegations will be investigated, and that we are committed to pursue the highest ethical standards in public office without fear or favour. It also serves as an assurance to our community that illegal or unethical actions that tarnish the reputation or interfere with the media will not be allowed.”
Further in his statement to the media, Jack emphasised that the decision to take action against these top level officers was not taken lightly: “It was after very careful examination by me of the information that have been gathered to date. And of course I was also mindful of the high public office that these individuals hold.”
He added: “The enquiries are ongoing and I want to make it clear at this point that no judgment has been made as to the guilt, innocence or culpability of any person. The decision to put these officers on required leave was made to protect the integrity of the enquiries to be made and it shows fairness to the officers involved.”
The conditions of the required leave will be under constant review by the governor as the investigation progresses.
To lead the RCIPS in the interim the Governor has appointed David George, a UK police officer, as Acting Commissioner.
While Jack pledged to make every effort to keep the community informed, he did say that the sensitivity of the issues involved as well as the sub judice rule will restrict the amount of information the investigative team can provide. The governor urged the community to steer clear of “sensationalism and divisive politics” and instead work together to combat rumour, innuendo and mischief making.
In a separate statement, Senior Investigating Officer Martin Bridger said that much of his 30 year career as a detective has been spent dealing with issues of integrity within the police services. This included working in the Anti-Corruption Unit of London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman Office and advising other UK and European police services on how to meet the challenges offered by breaches of integrity and wrongdoing.
Bridger said that he and his team had been working in the Cayman Islands for the past six months investigating serious criminal allegations made against Seales and Ennis, that over a two year period these individuals were in involved in a corrupt relationship.
Had the allegations been true, Bridger said, they would have had the potential to undermine the criminal justice process of the Cayman Islands and put operational officers’ lives at risk.
“I am wholly satisfied that I have now established the truth in respect to these allegations. Both Mr Seales and Mr Ennis are completely innocent of the allegations and I am delighted that the investigation has prevented both of these individuals from being unfairly and inappropriately accused,” Bridger stated.
“I reiterate that they are totally innocent of all the allegations made against them,” he added.
Bridger went on to say that, early Thursday morning, a man was arrested and is currently in custody assisting with enquiries.
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