Crime

VIPD Commissioner Nominee Sees Use of Technology as Crime Deterrent, Public Figures Leading Crime-Prevention Efforts, and New Vehicles Lifting Police Morale

V.I. Police Dept. Commissioner Nominee Ray Martinez on Wednesday evening introduced some of his initiatives and strategies, including the use of technology to solve crimes during an episode of the Bryan administration's “Inside the Cabinet” program. Mr. Martinez, who believes the initiatives will result in an increase in community confidence in the V.I.P.D., acknowledged that the past six months have been a “really tough time” for the police force. “The success of the department is based upon just that, the ability of the department to not just solve crimes but solve crimes through arrests and prosecution,” he said.  He said doubling the range of the ShotSpotter system, which detects where gunshots are coming from, and quadrupling the amount of CCTV cameras installations with license plate readers would help reduce criminal activity. Mr. Martinez said there were over 100 CCTV cameras currently installed. The commissioner nominee said the V.I.P.D. will be able to use the CCTV camer...