Former officer backs Police Commissioner Baines

As I served for over 40 years in police services I believe I have the experience and background knowledge to offer my congratulations to Cayman Islands Police Commissioner David Baines for his actions following the alleged robbery on New Year’s Day.

As a senior officer much time is spent on strategic planning with the luxury of having the time for discussion and team input. However, as a serving officer there are times when split-second decisions have to be made in order to comply with the oath of office made to Her Majesty the Queen, that includes a promise to preserve life and protect property.

The incident on Jan. 1 certainly falls under having to make a split-second decision. As this particular case is sub judice, I will not repeat the well-reported details, but here we have an unarmed and off-duty police officer about to embark on a social day with family and friends. Suddenly confronted with a situation where allegedly armed criminals are bursting out of a store, and staff and customers have been subjected to a terrifying ordeal, he has to act. There is no time to call for assistance or to hold a briefing.

Commissioner Baines has to resort to urgent and immediate action that will prevent harm to the public, both local and the thousands pouring off a cruise ship. It is highly unlikely that desperados of this nature will respond to a kindly “give it up son, you are under arrest,” and if shots were to be fired, how many innocents would be injured or killed?

In my opinion he took the only action appropriate for this very difficult situation, and whilst it is unfortunate that one person is injured, the prevention of further injury or harm to the public fully justifies his courageous actions.

I am in full support of Commissioner Baines, who took charge of an ailing RCIPS after we had experienced five other commissioners in the previous two years. I am confident that any investigation into his actions on Jan. 1 will show that his actions were lawful and in the best traditions of the Police Service.

When I commanded the Drug Task Force, my team and I were often subjected to criticism from the “9 o’clock army” that had spent a comfortable night in bed and had the benefit of hindsight and time; rather than the operational team that had to make instant decisions in the heat of critical operational engagements that were often highly dangerous. To help build the morale of my team, I posted the following anonymous poem in our offices. It is from this poem that the most famous military regiment in the world takes its motto:

“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or the doer of deeds might have done them better.

Credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who spends his time in a worthy cause. Who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

Please support your RCIPS. They do not always get it right, but a team works better with support and constructive advice rather than being continually subjected to ill-informed blogs and criticism.

Derek Haines QPM, CPM