United States Virgin Islands Police Department
{{Short description|US law enforcement agency}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|commonname= Virgin Islands Police Department
| nativename = Police Department of the United States Virgin Islands
|abbreviation=VIPD
|flag=Flag of the Virgin Islands Police Department.png
|flagcaption=Flag of the VIPD
|patch= Patch of the United States Virgin Islands Police Department.png
|patchcaption = Virgin Islands Police patch, introduced in 2020
|logo= Seal of the Virgin Islands Police Department.png
|logocaption = Great Seal, adopted in 2003
|formed = 1955
|date1 =
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|dissolved =
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|legaljuris = United States Virgin Islands
|headquarters = Alexander Farrelly Criminal Justice Center
|employees =
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|chief1name = Mario Brooks
|chief1position = Commissioner
|chief2name = Sidney Elskoe
|chief2position = Assistant Commissioner
|chief3name = Jason Marsh
|chief3position = Deputy Commissioner
|chief4name = Sean Santos
|chief4position = St. Croix Chief of Police
|chief5name = Steven Phillip
|chief5position = St. Thomas-St. John Chief of Police
|chief6name = Toby Derima
|chief6position = Public Information Director
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|website = {{URL|https://vipd.vi.gov/}}
|footnotes =
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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.{{Cite web | title = V.I. Code tit. 23, § 2 (2019) | url = https://law.justia.com/codes/virgin-islands/2019/title-23/chapter-1/2/ | work = Virgin Islands Code | year = 2019 | access-date = 2023-05-14 }}
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is responsible for policing the British Virgin Islands.
History
{{Multiple image
|align=left
|image1=U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department officers in Christianstad, St. Croix (February 2012).jpg
|caption1=VIPD officers in 2012
|image2=US Virgin Islands Police Ford PIU.jpg
|caption2=Ford Police Interceptor Utility in VIPD service
|image3=Patch of the United States Virgin Islands Police Department (1981–2020).png
|caption3=Old VIPD patch, used from 1981 to 2020.
}}
Under the 1936 Organic Act of the Virgin Islands,{{Cite news | title = Looking Back: A Simpler, More Respectful Time | author = Elton Lewis | url = https://stjohntradewinds.com/st-john-watch-by-vipd-commissioner-elton-lewis-2/ | newspaper = St. John Tradewinds News | access-date = 2023-05-14}} 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.{{Cite book | title = American Volunteer Police: Mobilizing for Security | author-first = Martin Alan | author-last = Greenberg | publisher = CRC Press | year = 2014 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=K5faBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA166 | page = 166| isbn = 978-1-4822-3254-7 }}
In 1954, revisions were made to the Organic Act that required that the municipal departments be reorganized as part of a territorial executive branch.
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.{{Cite web | url = http://www.vipd.gov.vi/about-us/history | publisher = United States Virgin Islands Police Department | title = History | access-date =2023-05-14}}
In 1981, the department adopted a new patch,{{Cite web|title=Flag, Seal & Patch|date=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113153915/http://www.vipd.gov.vi/About_Us/Flag_Seal_n_Patch.aspx|url=http://www.vipd.gov.vi/About_Us/Flag_Seal_n_Patch.aspx|archive-date=November 13, 2010|publisher=U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department|location=U.S. Virgin Islands}} which was used until November 2020 when a new one was introduced.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/VIPoliceDept/videos/1730281087127076/|title=New Uniform Reveal|date=November 19, 2020|publisher=U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department|location=U.S. Virgin Islands}} The department was renamed the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in 1985. In 2003, the department adopted a seal, which is also featured on its flag.
Line of duty deaths
Fleet
The VIPD operates a variety of vehicles, including cars and SUVs.{{Cite news | url = https://visourcearchives.com/content/2005/09/10/vipd-big-step-closer-having-vehicles-it-needs/ | title = VIPD Is a Big Step Closer To Having Vehicles It Needs | newspaper = Virgin Islands Source | access-date = 2023-05-14 | date = 2005-09-10 | author = }} In 2018 it acquired a fleet of Segways and electric cars for patrolling downtown areas of St. Thomas.{{Cite news | newspaper = Virgin Islands Daily News | url = http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/vipd-debuts-new-downtown-vehicles/article_07b9d743-2340-5e5b-b986-e9025e80d2db.html | title = VIPD debuts new downtown vehicles | author = Brian O'Connor | date = 2017-03-17 | access-date = 2023-05-14 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://vipd.vi.gov/}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991014043044/http://www.vipd.gov.vi/|date=October 14, 1999|title=United States Virgin Islands Police Department}}
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{{North America topic|Law enforcement in}}
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Category:Government of the United States Virgin Islands
Category:Motor vehicle registration agencies
Category:Government agencies established in 1955
Category:1955 establishments in the United States Virgin Islands