Police seek special volunteers to help fight crime

| 21/03/2011

(CNS): The RCIPS is on a recruitment drive to swell the ranks of its special constables and find volunteers who are willing and able to help support the full time service. The service will be holding an open house on Saturday 26 March at the RCIPS Training and Development Unit in Governors Square for anyone who would like to learn more about the role of a volunteer police officer. Many of the men and women who already volunteer will be available to answer questions and discuss the opportunities available in the RCIPS Special Constabulary, an official spokesperson revealed. There are currently 82 Special Constables in the RCIPS and ‘Specials’, as they are known dedicate a minimum of 20 hours every month and work alongside regular officers on foot and mobile patrol duties.

Posts are open to people from all walks of life, the RCIPS said but applicants must be aged between 18 and 50 years, be physically fit and have no criminal convictions. Although volunteers did not have to be Caymanian they must have lived and worked in the Cayman Islands for a minimum of two years.

“Theselection criteria for this demanding but rewarding role are robust. Physical and academic testing will challenge applicants but two of the main characteristics we are looking for are commitment and desire,” said Sergeant Kevin Ashworth of the RCIPS Training and Development Unit. “There are a myriad of occupations represented in the Special Constabulary and this brings with it additional experience that we can draw upon as well as enhanced community trust. Each and every officer has an integral role in the RCIPS family and makes a huge contribution to keeping our communities safe.”

The tradition of separating specials and auxiliary officers from other uniform members of the RCIPS by the blue striped uniform was recently stopped and volunteers now also wear the distinctive red striped uniform trousers (and skirts) of the RCIPS.

Application forms will be available at the Training and Development Unit on Saturday from 10am when the open house starts until 2pm. The closing date for applications is 8 April 2011. Applicants who meet the selection criteria will be expected to pass a physical test, a written test and take part in an interview. The next training class for Special Constables will begin as quickly as possible following the completion of the recruitment process.

Anyone who cannot make it along to the event on Saturday can contact the Deputy Commandant of the RCIPS Special Constabulary, Arthur McTaggart, for further information on info@specialconstabulary.ky .

 

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  1. xXx says:

    I agree that they need more special constables, but at the same time I would like to see some of the good caymanian police back on the force and for them to stop bringing in more corrupt garbage from other coutries and giving them high ranking positions. Also they need to take some of these so called officers aside and teach them how to talk to people because they must always remember the same people that they’re being rude to are the same that they may inturn need one day. I personally think that the training that they receive now is very poor, alot of the GOOD police officers that we had here in the Cayman Islands received proper training all over the Caribbean in places like Barbados, back then we had good, respectable officers instead of the little disrespectable "Piss Tail" Boys that we have to put up with today.   

    • Anonymous says:

      Talk about hitting the nail on the head! You are right in so many ways! The police officers we have here now must have been pulled off the plane when it landed! They were handed a uniform and given free medical, pension and only God knows what else. My heart goes out to all the innocent children who suffer for the guilty aka gangstas, bullies etc.

      You are here to protect and to serve not turn your back and ignore! Do what you’re being paid to do!

  2. Anonymous says:

    If there is money to waste for the premier’s need to travel, then there is money to pay the "volunteers".

    Crime prevention starts at the top (politicians) and starts at the bottom (parents). Unfortunately both have different priorities.

    The island’s downfall started in the 80’s and escalated 2 years ago and this is just the beginning.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      I dont inderstand why enough money is not given to the Police Department to fight crime when julie is paving every stitch of the Business people propertys and some of the church yards in Cayman Brac. Something should be done about this, how much sh.. is she going to do. Power in the wrong hands is dangerous. The majority of these folks can afford to pave their propertys. She started with two, didnt she realize that the others was going to want it done as well. Now there is at least eight places done, and more to do, thats what you call an expensive vote. I am wandering if these guys dont know that this money is not from her own pocket. Every one blames Mack for everything but sure as hell he dont know what she is carrying on in Cayman Brac. Imagine two more years of this, whata shame.

    • anonymous says:

      Anonymous @ 13:41 where in the world have you been living? you say crime escalated 2 years ago,sorry to say but you are totally wrong,stats from RPIS web site shows crime getting out of hand from 2005/6/&7,please get you facts straight.thank you

  3. Anonymous says:

    I would most def. sign up, and help whip this countryy back in shape, the way it ought to be!
    With a good tamarind switch, and good broughtupsie from grandparents, -which some of these younger generations never seemed to have gotten- Cayman will be back to where it should!
    Seeing as though anyone could possibly do a better job than the RCIP right now!