United States Virgin Islands Police Department
Great Seal
Agency overview
Formed1955
JurisdictionUnited States Virgin Islands
HeadquartersAlexander Farrelly Criminal Justice Center
Agency executives
  • Ray A. Martinez, Commissioner
  • Celvin Walwyn, Deputy Commissioner
Websitehttp://www.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]

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

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

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.
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