Cops seize 47 guns in 1 year

| 07/07/2011

(CNS): Between the end of the last gun amnesty in June 2010 and the start of this year’s anonymous firearms collection the police have seized over five thousand rounds of ammunition and 47 guns. Speaking at a police meeting in West Bay on Wednesday evening DS Marlon Bodden explained that as a result of operations on island 30 real guns and some 2301 bullets had been seized by officers.  Meanwhile, Superintendent Kurt Walton who heads up the special task forces said interceptions at sea had led to the recovery of another 17 guns and close to 3000 rounds of ammunition that were prevented from reaching the streets of the Cayman Islands. (Photo-the latest firearm to be seized by police)

Bodden said that the increasing use of firearms was one of the most pressing concerns regarding crime on the islands and why the amnesty and public co-operation was important. He asked the people at the meeting to think seriously about whether the increase in seizures of weapons was down to much better enforcement or because there were so many more guns on the island. “So doesn’t the amnesty make sense?” he asked rhetorically.

He said it was the law abiding citizens of the community that should be shaping how the Cayman Islands looks over the next ten years not the criminals.

Bodden pointed to the growing use of firearms in just a few years because of the increasing numbers of guns coming into the country from outside. He pointed to the seven murders which occurred in 2008 where two involved guns compared to six out seven last year. Although there have been no killings so far this year, the number of armed robberies is already over fifty for 2011 and many of them involved firearms.

DS Bodden made an impassioned plea to the community to help the police get the guns out of the hands of the wrong people. He said the police were doing as much as they could and they would not tolerate people being armed on the streets but they needed the help of the public. “Carrying a gun is not going to be tolerated and we will find them,” he said. “If you have friends or family you know are involved with guns tell them to hand them in.”

Although he pointed out that there had been a great improvement in the crime situation in West Bay, in particular, with a significant reduction in burglaries and the gang related gun crime. However, the escalation of robberies and the use of firearms was a serious problem. Bodden said that the statistics meant nothing when people were threatened by escalating violence. He warned that mortality rates would increase as more guns were used in the pursuit of crime.

The senior officer also noted that beating up on the police didn’t help he said he knew they were not perfect but by only seeking out the negative this only benefitted the criminals. He asked the public to give credit where credit was due and support the police.

Kurt Walton said that there was a significant amount of work going on behind the scenes to seize weapons and drugs coming into Cayman via the canoes or at the port and as a result the police were working closely with immigration and customs, as well as overseas partners. Walton pointed out however, that such investigations took many years and the seizure of one canoe recently had been the culmination of an investigation lasting some two years.

Michael Myles who is currently heading up a new cross ministerial initiative to address the long term problem of crime also spoke at length about how hewas dealing with very young children with the goal of stopping them from becoming the gunmen of tomorrow.

The small but positive meeting was also an improvement on the gathering in George Town the night before when Bodden had expressed his disappointment with the turn out of only five members of the public. Around twenty people, as well as local political representative, Rolston Anglin attended the second amnesty road show and participated in the discussion and offered their support to the officers and the work being carried out by Myles who impressed many of the people in the audience.

One member of the public summed up the feeling of the meeting when he said, “I think this is one of the first times I’ve come to a police meeting and really feel hopeful that there is a plan.”

The Police road show will be at the Webster Memorial Hall, Bodden Town this evening at 7:30pm.

Next week the police will be at the Civic Centre in East End on Monday 11 July then on Tuesday 12 July at the Cradock Ebanks Civic Centre, North Side, before heading to the Sister Islands. Meetings will be held at Layman Scott High School Hall, Cayman Brac on Wednesday and on Thursday 14 July at the Hurricane Shelter, Little Cayman. All meetings start at 7:30.
 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Who is the king Pin importing guns into this little country?

    That's what the community wants answered. The thugs are just thugs who were handed these guns whether freely into their hands or somebody paid for them. How can a crack head afford a gun? isn't paying for his crack more important than paying for a gun?  Who is handing these guns to these thugs and WHO IS THE WEAPONS DEALER he must be very wealthy.

    A town hall meeting can not take down a King Pin. Baines  don't you think its  time for you to step down, its not workig out for you.

  2. noname says:

    Its bird its a plane its 45 its 357 what it is a replica six shooter 1873 colt i wish you guys would stop posting it because all the hype and hoopla the police made over some thing that is not even real!!!!! says alot.

  3. Anonymous says:

    What the…….is that a 45?

  4. Anonymous says:

    I can tell you some folks would rather do the straight  ten years than have to listen to BS at these meetings.

  5. Caymanian Boat Captain says:

    Kurt and Marlon, I know both of you very well and I'm sure that you mean the country good. However, both of you should be very mindful not to become the "yapping mouthpiece" in the media for the failed policies that have been established in the RCIPS for the past 6 years. Let those who brought these wonderful policies forward, now go out in public and justify the shortcomings including the increase in gun crimes. Remember, they are the "best strategist's in the world" and while both of you are taking the "hits and licks" out there, they sit back and laugh at their usual gatherings…….at the local boys in the media attempting to justify "their obvious failures".         

    • Anonymous says:

      Your post is not only offensive to the people you alledgedly 'know', but wide off the mark to the real position.  Cayman is in the modern world, and guns are unfortunately part of it.  This whole stroy shows that collectively the RCIPS is making progress, despite the silence of the community and the apathy of anyone to do anything positive – other than write the usual critical armchair rubbish on here.

      Northward is full or prisoners convicted and on remand – that didn't happen by accident!

  6. Anonymous says:

    I would say 47 guns, great..  Are the Police researching these homes or following up to see that the suspects are in line??

    Did the Police record and now have a database with these suspects details and revisit these suspects for the crimes or shooting that are now taking place??

    Are the Police taking the time and talk to the parents of these suspects and informing the parents that they will be subject to a house search??

    Mr. Police man you need to talk to the parents and family members of these suspects and reach out and build your data.

    Take back our island, I would like to feel safe again.

    Like one year without a murder or shooting………

    • Anonymous says:

      I assume you're going to go to the next meeting and ask these questions, right?

  7. truth says:

    Go ahead and knock the police as is normal but the guns were taken from the people of Cayman.  The gun crimes?  The people of Cayman. Those that know the criminals and don't tell?  Those that are bringing in more guns?  See where this is going?  Try to imagine what Cayman would be like without any help from the police.

  8. R EBANKS says:

    As per normal its knock the RCIPS time. Do people think criminals keep the AK47's hidden in cookie jars for the Police to find any time they please, because they don’t they hide them, bury them or keep them with people who do not attract Police attention. Think of it this way 47 guns off the street is 47 less robberies or even murders. And for convictions, while the RCIPS may arrest, seize and investigate the crime the Courts of Cayman and the fine members of the jury decide who is guilty or not, not the Police who are not even allowed to sit on jury’s! And as we can all see from the repeated number of retrial stories and not guilty stories published on this very web site, this is where the problem lies not solely with the RCIPS. The jury system should be opened to non-caymanian persons who are not scared of what distant relation might do to them and a three strike rule should introduced with a mandatory 10 year sentence for any person who commits any 3 crimes. Support is what’s needed not criticism. If god can forgive the sins of man why can’t people forgive the past problems of the RCIPS and try to make the island a better place for everyone. Trust me it could be worse, just look at Jamaica where even Police officers get robbed and killed.

    • anonymous says:

      Me thinks he/she doth protest too much.

      I've served on Jury Duty before and can tell you that some of the Police "investigations" and evidence gathering/presentation techniques fall far below any normal standards for convicting someone.

      Too many people here that commit serious crime don't even get arrested, of those that do….too many again get off because a Judge or Jury cannot sentence them based on poor evidence gathering and presentation.

      While some Officers do a good job, it is also true that many more do not! Sadly that's a fact.

       

       

  9. Anonymous says:

    Cayman is a good example of…when you outlaw guns only outlaws will have them.

    • Anonymous says:

      same with bombs, let everyone build them

      same logic

      or make everything legal and then we will have no more crime in Cayman

    • Rumpolestiltskin says:

      That is stunningly circular logic. 

      • Dennie Warren Jr. says:

        Lawful private firearm ownership is a good thing.  Let me guess, you don't like that statement either, right?

  10. Anonymous says:

    Yet another marketing hype effort to assure the public that the RCIP is taking control of the gun crime. However, I have my doubts and must agree with several other posts, if there have been 47 guns seized is it safe to say there have at least been some arrests made and more important convictions obtained.

    I want to give credit where credit is due and if the RCIP has in fact increased their seizures, arrests & convictions then I say well done. I would also suggest that while the RCIP is trying to restore their image within the public eye they may want to ask their officers to show a little more tact while in a police car. Please ask them to stop driving while on their cell phone, stop speeding, to use their indicators when turning, dont turn the sirens on when all they want to do avoid sitting in traffic or get through a red light. While they are in uniform on or off duty they also need to conduct them selves in a respectable manner. It's the little things the police do in the public eye that could go a long way in restoring their image.

  11. Anonymous says:

    What do RCIPS class as a 'real gun'.

    I don't see a significant number of people going through the Court system as a result of these seizures.

    Are we sure these are real weapons or are they just blank firers, softair and air weapons, classed by RCIPS as firearms to boost their stats, along with their 'ammunition'.

    Come on Marlon give us the figures before we start filing FOI requests – how many rounds of 22, 32, 38, 9mm, 40 calibre, etc. plus the makes and models of the firearms seized.

    Based on the photos recently released I think we should all be a bit sceptical about these claims.

    And while I'm knocking RCIPS where is our beloved Commissioner while all this is going on?

  12. Anonymous says:

    Detroit should start advertising in Cayman as a destination to get away from the HEAT.

  13. nauticalone says:

    It's very likely safe then to assume that what the Police have seized or had handed in, is only a fraction of what guns there are here. Especially as they have rightly admitted that "gun crime has increased".

    And while i also implore anyone who might "know" where guns are, to advise the Police, it is also very true that most of us law abiding residents do NOT know this information!

    It may well be time that a real and open debate take place about law abiding residents having the ability to more easily obtain the means (including pepper spray, tasers and even guns) for protection of self and home!

  14. Anonymous says:

    Now if there is a minimum of 10 years for gun possession, does that mean we have – assuming a few people had multiple weapons and several were handed in in the amnesty, say a minimum of 20 convictions with perps locked away for 10 years each?

  15. Anonymous says:

    47 guns seized… but where are the arrested offenders for arm robberies and murders???

    • B.B.L. Brown says:

      Good question!   Where ARE the gun-toters now?  How many are in prison?  What kind of sentences were imposed?  And…… how many of them are still walking the streets?  How about some answers…… ?

  16. Anonymous says:

    makes me wonder just how many illegal guns there are on the island – hundreds I would think, maybe even thousands – I shudder at the thought.

  17. Anonymous says:

    The police have a very difficult job! The fact that they siezed 47 guns and 26 were given up, and gun crime seemed to have increased just shows the extent of the problem.

    What might help is a massive sweep of the homes of everyone suspected of having guns, or being involvedin crime!

     

  18. Anonymous says:

    Good job RCIPS. My question would be how many convictions (not arrests) have they got from these raids and collections of firearms? This just goes to show how many firearms are on our streets and this appears to be just the tip of the iceberg.

  19. Real World says:

    How many guns were "seized" during raids and how many guns were "given up" as part of the gun amnesty?

    CNS Note: These seizures were all made in operations since last year's amnesty. In the amnesty itself last year some 26 guns plus several rounds of ammunition were handed in.

    • Anonymous says:

      The 47 guns and 5000 + rounds of ammo were taken off the streets by good police detection, not by amnstey collection.

      GOOD JOB R.C.I.P.F.

        To those that know of criminal activity pass on the information and help to return our Islands peace and tranquility.

      Remember we are either >>>   part of the solution <<<<

      >>>>> or part of the problem??

      If you partake of the illegal gains you are the problem and will eventually regret you did. All is well when all is well, but when things go South, a guilty concience will be very painful and regrets after the deed will be too heavy to     b e  a   r  !!!!