Police Commissioner Mario Brooks addresses the community during a press conference on Thursday. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM.
Amid a welcomed increase in community co-operation, the V.I. Police Department is calling for information which could help them solve several open cases.
During a press conference on Thursday, Police Commissioner Mario Brooks told residents that “our community involvement has increased, and you are aiding us at keeping crime down.”
This, he feels, is primarily due to the establishment of better communication between the police and the public. “Our chiefs…they are out there meeting with the community members.” Mr. Brooks noted the positive reception to two recent town hall meetings on St. Croix, and said the community's ability to tolerate criminal activity has worn thin. “The people are tired…they're fed up, they're frustrated with what's been happening on the street.”
This sentiment is driving increased reporting by the public. “They're utilizing Crime Stoppers, they're utilizing different avenues to get us the information,” Mr. Brooks said. The police department's role in the process, he explained, is to ensure that providing information does not put individuals at undue risk. “We will do our best to utilize that information to help us solve the crimes while ensuring that they [remain] anonymous,” he assured.
Cmdr. Marisol Colon and St. Croix Police Chief Uston Cornelius at Thursday's press conference (Credit: Ernice Gilbert, V.I. Consortium)
Police Chief for the St. Croix district Uston Cornelius is hoping that residents will come to the VIPD's assistance once more by providing information in a June 8 shooting in Peters Rest, at Carlos Bar. Three people were injured in that incident, and investigations are ongoing. Lieutenant Marisol Colon, Commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau on St. Croix, told listeners that officers recovered over 60 spent casings at the scene. Referring to a video of the incident currently circulating on social media, Cmdr. Colon noted that there were several witnesses to the incident. She urged those with information to either call her directly, call Crime Stoppers, or call 911. “I don't need to know who you are. I just need you to help me, to say what you saw.”
Additionally, information is being solicited about the theft of brand-new kitchen equipment at the Eulalie Rivera K-8 Elementary School, which has yet to be recovered. A recent burglary at a home on the West Side is also being investigated. The St. Croix chief asked residents to carefully consider any items they are offered for purchase. “[If] the price just sounds too nice to believe, reach out to us, even though you might want it,” Chief Cornelius urged. “Reach out to us, because today for that person, tomorrow for you.”
He noted that the successful recovery of equipment stolen from a business was the result of information received from the community. “The Intelligence Unit and members of the Marine Unit were able to follow up leads, which led to the stolen equipment and netted two arrests,” he stated.
Community members also aided in the swift detention of “a person of interest” in the shooting death of Jordan “Dirty Heart” Jones.
