The issue of respect is steadily undermining the Virgin Islands Police Department’s relationship with the community. Respect – the respect of officers for the community they serve and of the community for the police – is the foundation of this department. When that mutual respect wavers, it creates ever-widening cracks in the foundation.

Upon assuming the leadership of this department in 2003, one of my first acts as Commissioner was to critically and objectively assess the agency. As a veteran of this Police Department, I was already aware of a number of long-standing deficiencies and areas of concern. This assessment also determined what the community’s concerns were. What did the community want from their police department? What did our officers need in order to be of better service to their community?

Permit me to discuss something that we learned during this process. The community wanted the police to be more visible in their neighborhoods. The police wanted residents to be more involved in policing their neighborhoods, by identifying perpetrators, crime and other suspicious activity. VIPD began to aggressively work with our communities in creating Neighborhood Watch Programs to help residents be more proactive in their neighborhoods.

We also realized that to be more responsive to the community, we needed to regularly assess what the concerns of the community are. To facilitate this, the VIPD formed Citizen Integration Teams (CIT) on all three islands. The CIT is a group of citizens who meet on a regular basis to identify ways that their resources, talents and influence can be used to address law enforcement issues affecting our community. Working closely with advisors in the Police Department, the CIT uses a community-based approach to planning and problem solving to facilitate the work of the VIPD. One of their most recent successes is the coordinated effort between several government agencies to close businesses that were operating illegally on St. Croix.

The needs and wants of the community and of the police officers are strikingly similar. As a police officer and as a resident of this community, I understand and am sympathetic to the desires of both groups. What the officers want is what I want: good working conditions, safe and dependable transportation, training, better pay, promotions, and the tools and equipment needed to capably perform their duties. Most importantly, I want the Police Department and its officers to have the respect and admiration of our community.

What the community wants is what they deserve: a safe environment, a responsive and pro-active police department, officers that are well trained and have the tools and equipment needed to capably perform their duty. The community wants a police department that is actively seeking to eradicate criminal elements that are threatening their community. They want officers who respond to their concerns with respect and treat all persons whom they interact with in a respectful manner.

What the two groups want is not so far apart as to be unattainable. Each group wants the other’s respect. Policing cannot occur in a vacuum without community support. The community and the VIPD working together with mutual respect is something this department strives for every day. The success of this department and the safety of our people must be a team effort.