Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton has condemned a significant rise in attacks against officers, with 27 arrests already recorded in 2025 for assaults on police.
The current rate suggests this year will surpass previous totals, with 29 officer assaults reported throughout 2024 and 23 during 2023.
Walton attributed the increase to rising crime in two specific areas during an interview with CIGtv broadcast on 8 September.
“We have seen an increase in two main categories,” Walton said. “Public order offences and violence against a person. It’s about 200 more crimes in those two categories.”
The commissioner noted that officers responding to these incidents often encounter hostile environments requiring de-escalation.
“Generally speaking, officers are already going into some sort of hostility and need to de-escalate that situation,” he said.
“More often than not, it’s de-escalated, but there are unfortunately times where individuals are not being compliant, and we find ourselves having to make an arrest.”
The most recent incident occurred 4 September when officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle in Belford Estates, Bodden Town, where a 50-year-old George Town man wanted for theft violently resisted arrest.
During the confrontation, the suspect drew a knife before officers deployed a taser. The man was subsequently arrested.
Walton appealed for public cooperation with police operations.
“The reality is that we are a profession that is constantly under the limelight,” he said. “I would say to the public, we are a good police service. We want to be a great police service.”
The commissioner highlighted the force’s detection rates, including 49% for overall crime in 2024 and 85% for murders since 2017.
“There are some really dangerous people at Northward Prison – murderers, sexual and violent offenders… burglars, robbers – all because of our investigators,” Walton said.
He acknowledged the service has areas for improvement while seeking community support.
“We do have our flaws…. Do we want to do better? 100%,” he said. “We need your support from the community to give us the support that is certainly needed in helping us keep our community safe.”
Members of the public in the Cayman Islands can contact the police by calling 911 in an emergency or (345) 949-4222 for non-emergencies.
