RCIPS again searching for leadership
In a year which has already seen two police commissioners come and go, it now seems the third person picked for the job has said he doesn’t want it.
Governor Stuart Jack |
Royce Hipgrave, formerly of Sussex Police in England and ex-Chief of Police on St. Helena Island in the Atlantic left Cayman Thursday evening, about 48 hours after he arrived to take up the post as Acting Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
A statement released by Governor Stuart Jack’s office last week said ‘there was an aspect of the job’ which was not acceptable to Mr. Hipgrave. That ‘aspect’ caused him to withdraw from the position on Wednesday.
‘Unfortunately, after further discussions this could not be resolved,’ Mr. Jack’s statement read.
Mr. Hipgrave was just announced as the replacement for Acting Police Commissioner David George on 4 November. It was understood he was in meetings most of the day with Governor Jack on 19 November before his decision not to take up the position was announced.
Since late March, an investigation into alleged misconduct at RCIPS has been under public scrutiny following the removal of three police commanders including ex-Commissioner Stuart Kernohan, Deputy Commissioner Rudolph Dixon, and Chief Superintendent John Jones. All three men were placed on required leave on 27 March.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kernohan was fired by Governor Jack for refusing numerous times to return to Cayman from his native Scotland. Mr. Kernohan has said his contract does not state where he must spend his time on required leave, and has intimated he could take legal action against the government for defamation and wrongful termination.
It is not known whether the on-going RCIPS probe, being led by a team of investigators from the UK Metropolitan Police Service in London, had anything to do with Mr. Hipgrave’s decision.
Mr. Hipgrave previously served as Chief of Police in St. Helena, which has a staff of about 10-12 officers to serve a population of some 5,000. Before that, he worked as a Police Superintendent in charge of the Eastbourne District of Sussex, England which is a seaside town sometimes referred to as ‘the sunniest place in Great Britain.’
The Eastbourne District’s population is thought to be just under 90,000, according estimates by the Sussex County Council.
Mr. Jack’s statement said Mr. Hipgrave’s decision to withdraw from the acting commissioner’s post is a ‘setback’ for the RCIPS.
Current Acting Police Commissioner David George is expected to leave the islands by the end of this week; a decision which he said he informed Governor Jack about in August and does not intend to reverse.
‘It is with regret that I must leave the RCIPS under these circumstances,’ Mr. George said. ‘When I agreed to take over the post it was for a temporary period of six months. I have plans in place that I cannot change.’
Mr. George was recently named in his capacity as acting police commissioner in court documents requesting a judicial review for one of the people arrested as part of an on-going misconduct investigation at the RCIPS.
The request for judicial review seeks to declare Grand Court Justice Alexander Henderson’s 24 September arrest by officers from the UK Metropolitan Police unlawful, and requests damages be paid. Mr. George may be held liable for those damages, depending on how a court rules.
What specific control or input the acting police commissioner’s position has in the independent investigation team looking into alleged misconduct at the police service is unknown. Mr. George admitted in court last month that he was, in some respects, in a command role over the UK Met officers’ team.
Whether the potential liability issue had anything to do with Mr. Hipgrave’s decision to withdraw from the acting commissioner’s post was unknown at press time. Attempts to reach Mr. Hipgrave for comment were unsuccessful.
The only police officer above the permanent rank of superintendent now left in the Cayman Islands Police Service is Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis, who will serve as ‘interim acting police commissioner’ until a new acting commissioner is found.
‘I do not intend to apply for the vacant post of commissioner of police,’ Mr. Ennis said in a prepared statement. ‘However, I remain steadfastly loyal to the RCIPS.’
Governor Jack said Thursday that an immediate search has begun for a new acting commissioner. A search for a full-time commissioner was begun earlier this week following the sacking of Mr. Kernohan.
Deputy Commissioner Dixon and Chief Superintendent Jones remain on paid required leave while investigators review their cases. Mr. Dixon has been charged with four separate criminal offences and is expected to go to trial early next year. Mr. Jones has not been arrested and charged with any crimes.
Mr. Kernohan has also not been arrested or charged.
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