Dixon in court Wednesday

(CNS): Deputy Police Commissioner Rudolph Dixon has been charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office and two counts of doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice. Senior Investigating OfficerMartin Bridger said in a statement Monday, 4 August, that Dixon will appear in court on Wednesday, 6 August. He also said that Burmon Scott, who was arrested at the same time as Dixon concerning the same investigation, would not face charges.

Bridger is heading up an internal police investigation that began this March when the Governor Stuart Jack placed three senior Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) officers on ‘required leave’ after undercover officers from Scotland Yard discovered undisclosed information following an investigation into false allegations made by Lyndon Martin, a former Cayman Net News Journalist, against Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis who remains in post.

Bridger said that Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan and Chief Superintendent John Jones were still under investigation and the Metropolitan Police Team from London was making progress. “It is, however, important to note that this investigation remains totally separate from the case against Mr Dixon and as such it has a completely different timeline,” said Bridger. He also said that Lyndon Martin would appear in court again on Thursday, 21 August, for a Preliminary Inquiry hearing.

He said that the various elements of the investigation with respect to integrity issues within the RCIPS continued. “Experience has shown in numerous police forces throughout the world that it is those few officers who behave inappropriately that undermines a police service’s credibility and erodes the community’s trust. In this regard, the RCIPS is no different,” Bridger noted. “I know and do understand that these are difficult times for the RCIPS and the community. However, I believe there is an increasing appetite to collectively change things for an even better police service.”

He thanked the community for its support and applauded the courage of those who had offered information. “That information is currently being assessed, at the end of which decisions will be taken as how to take matters forward,” said Bridger. “Dealing with these issues will enable others to address the community’s concerns and will allow for a process of sustainable improvement to commence.”

He said that anyone else wanting to share information could rest assured that it would be handled with the utmost confidentiality. “All intelligence or evidence we gather will remain strictly within the possession of the independent investigating team,” Bridger added. “I encourage anyone who has information on integrity issues within the RCIPS to come forward and report it.”

Offering his own number (927-2981) he said all matters would be dealt with in the strictest of confidence and that his team remains independent from the RCIPS and government. Bridger reports directly to the Governor and his work is overseen by Metropolitan Police Service Assistant Commissioner John Yates. “This ensures total independence and accountability,” he said, and further explained that it was still impossible to offer a timeline on the various investigations.

“I appreciate the fact that it is hard to stay patient in these matters, especially when one cannot see the daily results. These are complex investigations and they do take time. It is also unfortunate that the nature of what we do prevents us from sharing all the details of our work.

But what I can say is that my team is committed and will work meticulously to establish where the truth lies within the different investigations. We will follow the facts – and only the facts – and at all times do our very best to ensure that all people are treated fairly,” Bridger added.