Senate Approves Temporary Law-Enforcement Integration Plan to Boost Police Manpower and Fight Violent Crime

All 14 senators present Tuesday unanimously approved legislation creating a temporary law-enforcement integration initiative intended to increase police manpower and address violent crime across the territory, while separately advancing a $2,917,519 appropriation for the University of the Virgin Islands. Both measures were brought to the floor through the special-order process and advanced without debate. They now await action by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. Sen. Kenneth Gittens special ordered Bill 36-0332, which establishes the temporary initiative to strengthen public-safety operations, increase available law-enforcement personnel and reduce violent crime throughout the Virgin Islands. Although the session provided no time for lawmakers to discuss the measure, every senator present voted in favor of its final passage. Sen. Carla Joseph initially voted against placing the bill on special order but later joined her colleagues in supporting its passage. Joseph explained that she objected...