VIPD officers escort the hearse carrying Eustace Charles at Kingshill Cemetery on St. Croix during funeral services honoring the slain officer, as fellow law enforcement personnel joined the final procession. Photo Credit: DEAR PRODUCTIONS.
ST. CROIX — The U.S. Virgin Islands concluded four days of official observances Thursday honoring Eustace Charles, the 51-year-old V.I. Police Department officer and lead dignitary security officer assigned to Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, with funeral services held one day after he lay in state at Government House on St. Croix.
Mr. Charles lay in state Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing members of the public an opportunity to pay their respects. VIPD temporarily restricted traffic around Government House and portions of downtown Christiansted during the observance.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. had proclaimed August 24 through 27 an “Observance of the Life of Eustace Charles” and ordered the Virgin Islands flag lowered to half-staff at Government House and all public buildings and grounds from sunrise Monday through sunset Thursday. “Eustace served our Territory with quiet strength, professionalism and a deep sense of responsibility,” the governor said.
Charles entered public service in July 2018 as a VIPD police recruit and graduated from the Police Academy in February 2019. He joined the Bryan-Roach administration as a security officer in November 2022, later moving into dignitary security. On February 6, 2024, he was promoted to lead dignitary security officer for Mr. Roach.
Charles was fatally shot in Williams Delight on July 26. VIPD said officers responding to reports of gunfire found him unresponsive inside a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. The department announced at the time that the homicide investigation would be conducted jointly with the FBI.
His funeral Thursday brought the territory’s formal four-day tribute to a close, one month after his killing.
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