Cayman’s police chief plans to open small satellite stations and work towards a constable dedicated to every parliamentary constituency.
Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton said he had listened to public concerns and that extra personnel at present in the recruitment pipeline would allow more officers to get closer to the public they serve.
He added he had looked at setting up satellite police stations in George Town, as well as other areas such as West Bay, to boost public confidence and heighten local visibility of officers.
“I am looking at what my satellite stations options are in terms of where I can put satellite police stations – basically in the centre of those areas,” Walton said.
“I don’t want to say what that looks like at the moment because of the potential of entering into a commercial contract.
“But I am certainly looking at that as an option, so those officers in that space will have an office that they can go back and forth – where they operate from.”
Walton added that he also hoped to have one officer assigned to all 19 parliamentary constituencies so “the people in these areas would know their beat officers”.
He was speaking as he unveiled the 2026 crime and traffic statistics report at the new police headquarters in the One Technology Square building on Eastern Avenue on 22 April.
Walton said he had seen satellite stations in action in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos when he was travelling on police business, so it wasn’t a novel idea.
Tourism policing unit
Walton said he had also asked for his team in the shorter term to look at the foot patrol plan for George Town, which has been hit by a string of armed robberies targeting jewellers in recent times.
“In fact, when I was walking in, I know there were officers in George Town on foot patrol,” he said. “But the issue for me is more about the long-term and what is sustainable. I just talked about what we’re doing in terms of the hires over the next few months.
“With community policing, my plan is, or the vision is, having a tourism policing unit.
“I’m hoping if everything goes as planned … we can kick that off this year.”
Visible policing
Walton also reacted to criticism from some community leaders that existing community officers tended to rely on drive throughs of their areas and did not get out of their cars to meet and talk to residents.
“There is a valid point there about visibility and I accept that,” he said. “It’s tough to measure crime prevention, but, for me, visibility and those preventative measures act as a way to instill trust and confidence.”
But he pointed out that there were more than 500 miles of roadway on Grand Cayman and it was difficult to have police officers everywhere.
He said, however, “Officers should be getting out of their cars and doing foot patrols, meeting and greeting people. If that’s not happening we have to address that.”
Walton highlighted that public appreciation had been noticeable when police stepped up patrols over the busy festive season last year.
“We had a lot of officers out there and we saw that in the feedback. The ultimate plan is to increase these numbers as far as visible policing is concerned.”
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A smile goes a long way.
On a recent morning I was walking south on one of WBR’s unpaved shoulder areas. Ahead of me I spotted an officer with a speed gun monitoring traffic. I gave him a big smile & a “thumbs up” thank you as I knew what he was doing was keeping me safe. What I received in return was no change in his expressionless face.
OK. I understand. He was doing his job. However acknowledgement that I was his supporter and advocate would have felt good.
A smile goes a long way.
Anne Evans