United States Virgin Islands Police Department

Last updated
United States Virgin Islands Police Department
VIPD
Great Seal of the VIPD.jpg
Great Seal
Agency overview
Formed1955
Jurisdiction United States Virgin Islands
HeadquartersAlexander Farrelly Criminal Justice Center
Agency executives
  • Mario Brooks, Commissioner
  • Sidney Elskoe, Assistant Commissioner
  • Jason Marsh, Deputy Commissioner
  • Sean Santos, St. Croix Chief of Police
  • Steven Phillip, St. Thomas-St. John Chief of Police
  • Toby Derima, Public Information Director
Website http://vipd.gov.vi/

The United States Virgin Islands Police Department is the law enforcement agency for the United States 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]

Contents

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is responsible for policing the British Virgin Islands.

History

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] The 1954 revisions to the Organic Act required that these 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] The department was renamed the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in 1985. [4]

Fleet

Ford Police Interceptor Utility in USVIPD service US Virgin Islands Police Ford PIU.jpg
Ford Police Interceptor Utility in USVIPD service

The USVIPD operates a variety of vehicles, including cars and SUVs. [5] In 2018 it acquired a fleet of Segways and electric cars for patrolling downtown areas of St. Thomas. [6]

USVI police officers in 2012 U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department officers in Christianstad, St. Croix (February 2012).jpg
USVI police officers in 2012

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References

  1. "V.I. Code tit. 23, § 2 (2019)". Virgin Islands Code. 2019. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  2. Elton Lewis. "Looking Back: A Simpler, More Respectful Time". St. John Tradewinds News. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  3. 1 2 Greenberg, Martin Alan (2014). American Volunteer Police: Mobilizing for Security. CRC Press. p. 166.
  4. 1 2 "History". United States Virgin Islands Police Department. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  5. "VIPD Is a Big Step Closer To Having Vehicles It Needs". Virgin Islands Source. 2005-09-10. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  6. Brian O'Connor (2017-03-17). "VIPD debuts new downtown vehicles". Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 2023-05-14.