Earlier today, Acting Police Commissioner James McCall and Territorial Police Chief Novelle E. Francis, Jr. expressed their satisfaction with the guilty verdicts made against the four young men involved in the 2004 homicide of Police Officer Cuthbert E. Chapman. A District Court jury found the men guilty after a trial that lasted several weeks. Officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department regularly attended the proceedings, as a sign of solidarity for the fallen officer.

Acting Commissioner James McCall says the jury sent a strong message of zero tolerance. “The jury recognized that the callous and wanton disregard for life that we see perpetuated throughout our community will not be tolerated,” states the Acting Commissioner. “Violent crimes against police officers affect the entire community,” McCall continued. Acting Commissioner McCall thanked the witnesses who came forward with information critical to identifying the suspects and U.S. Attorneys Harry Wallace and Charles Duross, FBI Special Agent Clifford Goodman, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, VIPD Detective Richard Matthews and Lead Forensic Detective Alan Lewit for their dedicated efforts in bringing justice to Officer Chapman. Acting Commissioner McCall is hopeful this guilty verdict will help bring some closure to the family of Officer Cuthbert E. Chapman and to the Police Department.

Territorial Police Chief Novelle E. Francis, Jr. says the verdict brings mixed feelings. “Today is a bittersweet day for the Police Department. No verdict can bring back our brother, Officer Cuthbert Chapman, but on the other hand, we have lost four young men to a lifetime of incarceration. We have won this battle but still fight one of loss,” Francis states.

The Virgin Islands Police Department’s family continues to keep the family of Officer Cuthbert Chapman in their prayers.