Giving an update on the independent Metropolitan Police Service investigation in Cayman HE the Governor Stuart Jack announced today (Thursday, 15 May 2008) that Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan, and Detective Chief Superintendent John Jones are now under formal investigation for possible misconduct in a public office.

He also announced that, relating to other matters, Deputy Commissioner Rudolph Dixon was arrested and suspended from active duty. Mr Kernohan and Mr Jones will remain on required leave.

Keeping to his commitment to update the community when appropriate, Governor Jack said in his statement delivered at a live briefing: “These unique and unprecedented circumstances, which are of national public interest involving the police service of the country, have prompted me to come back today and speak to you directly. While we will make every effort to keep you all informed, I ask you to understand that we are dealing with sensitive, and in some cases sub judice, issues.”

He added that everyone needs to be careful not to jeopardize the investigations. He also asked, in fairness to those involved, that the community work together “to ensure that rumour, innuendo and mischief making do not cloud the facts.”

Mr Jack also reported that the investigating team, while making enquiries into Mr Kernohan, Mr Jones and Mr Dixon’s respective cases, had received additional information in respect to other allegations of breaches of integrity within the police service.

The Governor stated that “this information is being recorded, and will be carefully evaluated to see if further investigation is needed.”

On this point Mr Jack reiterated previous statements that the vast majority of the officers of Royal Cayman Islands Police Service are honest and hardworking.

“The fact that we are taking the received information seriously, is not an indication that we have a wholesale lack of integrity in our police service. Rather, it means that we in the Cayman Islands want a police service above reproach, and if this means further investigations, we are willing to commit to it,” he said.

He concluded with the assurance that the Islands will continue to be policed effectively