From Cayman Islands Governor’s Office

Following a rigorous recruitment process, conducted by a panel comprising the Governor (Chair), the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner of Police of Bermuda, Mr Donald Seymour (recommended by the Premier) and the Hon. Dr. Linford Pierson OBE JP (recommended by the Leader of the Opposition), Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick, has appointed Derek Patrick Byrne from Ireland as the new Commissioner of Police in the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Byrne is a highly experienced police leader who has risen through the ranks over his 36 year career as a police officer. He comes to the Cayman Islands after eight years as Assistant Commissioner with Ireland’s National Police Service where he held the operational, strategic and business lead for serious and organised crime. He takes office with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) from November 2016 on a four year contract.

Commenting on the appointment, the Governor says: “I am delighted that we have such a distinguished police officer of Mr. Byrne’s calibre joining the RCIPS at a time when the people of the Cayman Islands continue to seek better service from public entities.

“I warmly welcome Mr. Byrne and look forward to his experience and expertise making a positive impact on the role of the RCIPS in the Cayman Islands.”

New Commissioner of Police Byrne remarks: “I am greatly honoured and delighted to have been selected as the next Commissioner of Police for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. As Commissioner, I will immerse myself in the community and in the policing of the islands. I look forward to working with Her Excellency the Governor, the Government of the Cayman Islands and with the men and women of the RCIPS to deliver a modern, progressive and professional policing service to all people of the Islands; a service that meets the expectations of the Islands’ communities. The highest level of community support and partnership is critical to realising these objectives.”

He adds: “The complexity of policing leadership, by its very nature, brings with it great responsibility to lead with confidence, inspiration and integrity. I am committed to ensuring that the RCIPS will work in partnership with communities across the Cayman Islands to deliver a policing service that has the trust and confidence of the communities it serves. A service that is accessible, visible, mobile and responsive, where policing is delivered in a transparent, accountable and ethical framework supported by robust governance structures.

“Within my first month I will visit all of the Islands to meet with community leaders, community groups and business leaders to obtain a first-hand account of policing requirements on the Islands which will feed into and inform future strategic planning and the direction of the policing service.”

Mr. Derek Byrne’s brief background:

In his last assignment as Assistant Commissioner for eight years with the Irish National Police Service, Mr. Derek Byrne held the national remit for tackling serious and organised crime and also had the strategic lead on international criminal investigations undertaken in that jurisdiction.

He was responsible for managing eight specialised crime divisions and over 700 staff, focusing on up-skilling staff, standardising and professionalising investigative training to ensure a cohesive effort and uniform approach while delivering improved service.

He also had responsibility for legal and ethical accountability, human rights compliance as well as operational and strategic business performance for all of the services under his command.

In 2013 Mr. Byrne successfully completed the prestigious FBI National Executive Institute Leadership Programme designed for world police leaders at the FBI National Academy Quantico, Virginia, USA. He holds a BA (Hons) degree in Police Management and is currently completing a Master’s degree programme at Queens University, Belfast in the School of International Politics, studying violence, terrorism and security.

 Photo caption: Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne

See also iNews Cayman related story published today: “Major blow to Garda as Assistant Commissioner resigns [to be Cayman Islands Police Commissioner]”