The United States Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), officially the Police Department of the United States Virgin Islands, is the law enforcement agency for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has jurisdiction anywhere in the territory. It is commanded by a commissioner, who is subject to the authority of the governor.[1]
Under the 1936 Organic Act of the Virgin Islands,[2] law enforcement was divided between the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John and the municipality of St. Croix, each of which had a separate Police and Prison Department.[3]
In 1954, revisions were made to the Organic Act that required that the municipal departments be reorganized as part of a territorial executive branch.[3]
The current Virgin Islands Police Department traces its origin to the establishment of the Department of Public Safety, which contained a Police Division, on July 21, 1955.[4]
In 1981, the department adopted a new patch,[5] which was used until November 2020 when a new one was introduced.[6] The department was renamed the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in 1985.[4] In 2003, the department adopted a seal, which is also featured on its flag.[5]
Fleet
The VIPD operates a variety of vehicles, including cars and SUVs.[7] In 2018 it acquired a fleet of Segways and electric cars for patrolling downtown areas of St. Thomas.[8]
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