Mike Needham Superintendent

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) is preparing to say farewell to a highly respected Superintendent, Mike Needham, who is retiring after a 41-year policing career.

RCIPS said that Superintendent Needham joined the service in January 1999 as the Detective Chief Inspector in charge of the Commercial Crime Branch as it was known then, following a 32-year career with Lancashire Police in the United Kingdom. Since then, he has held various roles with the RCIPS including officer in charge of the Joint Intelligence Unit, Head of the Financial Crime Unit and Head of the Marine Unit. He was promoted to Detective Superintendent in May 2003.

Over the last decade Mr Needham has been instrumental in a number of major projects and has assisted in modernizing many aspects of the service. Most recently, he oversaw the two-year project to upgrade and boost marine capabilities with new vessels, additional staff and a dedicated marine base.

Other notable achievements include establishing the new Joint Intelligence Unit, comprising police, customs and immigration in 2001. Following this and the promotion to Detective Superintendent, Mr Needham was tasked with forming the Financial Crime Unit (FCU) – a unit dedicated to investigating serious fraud, money laundering and corruption offences. Amalgamated from the Commercial Crime Branch, the FCU has grown to be one of the most recognized in the region and under Mr Needham’s command has twice been awarded the highest marks for any North American and Caribbean country following inspections by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.

Over the course of his career, Mr Needham has received a total of 10 commendations for his work, ranging from his conduct during investigations, the speed of investigations, his perseverance, professionalism and his devotion to duty.

On speaking about his decision to retire and despite nearing the age where retirement would be compulsory, Mr Needham said that it was one of the hardest decisions he has ever had to make. “I served with the UK police for 32 years and with the RCIPS for a further 10 years. I am very proud of the Financial Crime Unit which I helped to re-form after the Euro Bank affair and also the new marine base and police boats we commissioned recently. I have really enjoyed being a police officer and I will miss all my colleagues dearly. I wish them well,” he said.

Acting Commissioner of Police, James Smith, said that although he has not known Mr Needham very long, he will be missed.

“Mr Needham has clearly achieved a great deal during the course of his 40-year career and he should leave policing feeling extremely proud. I wish him all the best for the future,” he said.