Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. on Monday ordered executive branch agencies across the Virgin Islands to begin integrating qualifying exterior security cameras with the V.I. Police Department, expanding investigators' ability to access government-owned surveillance systems as the territory confronts 39 homicides in 2026 and a continuing series of shootings, armed robberies, burglaries and home invasions.
The Executive Order establishes what Government House is calling the Territory-wide Government Surveillance-Camera Integration Program. The initiative is intended to give VIPD secure, real-time access to exterior-facing cameras during criminal investigations and public-safety incidents. Mr. Bryan announced the initiative during Monday's Government House press briefing alongside Police Commissioner Mario Brooks.
“When it comes to fighting crime, we have to use every tool available to us,” Mr. Bryan said. “That means good police work. It means good intelligence. And increasingly, it means using technology in a smarter and more coordinated way.”
Government agencies already operate security cameras at public facilities, housing communities, transportation facilities, parking areas, roadways and other locations, but many of those systems function separately. The executive order directs agencies to inventory their exterior-facing cameras and work with VIPD and the Bureau of Information Technology to connect systems that qualify for integration.
“If a government-owned camera can help Commissioner Brooks and his officers identify a suspect, locate a vehicle, preserve evidence or respond more safely, then we should not be wasting valuable time trying to figure out who owns that camera or how to get access to it,” Mr. Bryan said. “We are taking technology that taxpayers have already paid for and making it work better for public safety.”
The initiative expands upon surveillance technology already being used by VIPD, including ShotSpotter, existing camera systems and the department's Real-Time Intelligence Centers. Government House said those systems have been used to identify people and vehicles of interest, generate investigative leads and support arrests. Mr. Brooks said the new access would supplement rather than replace traditional police work.
The timing comes during a sustained period of violent and property crime across both districts. The territory's homicide count stood at 20 on June 16, after three killings were reported in one day — two on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix. By August 9, the killing of brothers Yordani Eduardo and Delli Eduardo near La Terraza in Castle Coakley had pushed the total to 30. On September 10, the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Thymothy Rodriguez at the Titan Service Station in La Grande Princesse brought the toll to 35.
The pace continued through the final days of September. On Thursday, September 24, 27-year-old Kyle Thomas was found dead from at least one gunshot wound at Fortuna Bay Beach on St. Thomas, raising the territorywide homicide count to 38. Then, at approximately 1 a.m. Monday — hours before Mr. Bryan announced the camera initiative — ShotSpotter detected multiple gunshots on Veterans Drive. Officers found 21-year-old J’Niya Rambaran suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She died at Schneider Regional Medical Center, bringing the 2026 count to 39: 17 on St. Thomas and 22 on St. Croix.
Homicides have not been the only concern. In July, VIPD took the unusual step of publicly warning St. Croix residents about what it described as an increase in commercial burglaries and residential home invasions. The department said it had received reports of nine burglaries in a single day, most in the La Grande Princesse area and one in Frederiksted. Police said some offenders were concealing their identities with dark clothing, hoodies, ski masks and other face coverings, while victims in some residential incidents had been restrained and had phones and other electronics taken to delay calls for help. VIPD increased patrols in affected communities.
St. Thomas subsequently experienced its own cluster of armed robberies. On August 8, police investigated three robberies within less than three hours — at Wheatley Shopping Center, near the Pink Palm Hotel and on Main Street. In each case, victims reported being confronted by suspects dressed in black; firearms were reported in two of the incidents. Jewelry, cash, phones and other belongings were taken.
September has brought additional shootings and robberies. On September 13, three people arrived at Schneider Regional Medical Center with gunshot wounds following an incident near Luciano Bar in Savan. Police said the victims did not provide investigators with information that could establish what happened or identify those involved.
Six days later, two men were shot near Double Play on Krondprindsens Gade in an early-morning incident detected by ShotSpotter. During the same early-morning period, two women were robbed near the BeeHive Gentlemen's Club in Subbase by masked men dressed in black; police said one woman was struck in the head with a firearm and the other was pushed to the ground.
On St. Croix, two masked gunmen held an employee at gunpoint during a robbery at Yum Yum restaurant in Peters Rest earlier in the month. More recently, on the night of September 24 and early September 25, VIPD investigated separate incidents involving reports of masked men and gunfire from a gray truck in La Grande Princesse and a home invasion in which a masked gunman entered a residence and held a woman at gunpoint before fleeing with personal belongings.
St. Thomas police were meanwhile dealing with another series of events involving armed suspects. On September 18, VIPD said a man fleeing officers fired at police before being apprehended; officers reported recovering a Glock handgun equipped with what appeared to be a firearm-conversion device.
A week later, two masked gunmen allegedly stole a Toyota Corolla during an armed robbery at Splash and Dash Car Wash. Police located the vehicle Sunday as part of Operation Safe Communities, leading to a pursuit through Crown Bay. VIPD said one occupant exited the vehicle and pointed a long gun at pursuing officers before fleeing on foot, while 21-year-old Danllerli Cabrera was apprehended. Police ultimately reported recovering three Glock handguns and an AR-15-style long gun in connection with the incident, with one handgun allegedly modified for fully automatic fire.
Government House did not characterize Monday's executive order as a response to any single crime or killing. Instead, the administration described it as an effort to consolidate technology that already exists throughout government so police can obtain relevant video faster during investigations.
Mr. Bryan also sought to address concerns about the reach of the system. The order applies only to exterior-facing government cameras and limits their use to legitimate law-enforcement, public-safety, emergency-management, investigatory and evidentiary purposes. It also requires cybersecurity protections, controls governing who can access the systems and auditing of their use.
“This is not about unlimited surveillance,” Mr. Bryan said. “It is about making sure the technology government already has can be used responsibly, securely and effectively when our officers need information and every minute counts.”
The administration is separately exploring ways for businesses and private property owners to voluntarily make exterior-facing cameras available to law enforcement. No mandate requiring private camera owners to join the system was announced Monday.
Alongside the technology initiative, Mr. Bryan announced an agreement with the Police Benevolent Association to increase the starting salary for a V.I. police officer to $50,000 and the starting salary for a police cadet to $45,000. Mr. Brooks said VIPD expects to announce start dates shortly for Class 2026-2 on St. Croix and Class 2026 in the St. Thomas-St. John District.
Mr. Bryan said the higher salaries are intended to improve recruitment and retention as the department seeks additional personnel. “We need good people coming into law enforcement. We need experienced officers to stay. And we need young Virgin Islanders to see policing as an opportunity to serve their community and build a stable career at the same time,” he said.
The governor framed the salary agreement and camera integration as complementary parts of the administration's public-safety strategy: increasing the information available to investigators while strengthening the workforce responsible for acting on it.
“Better technology. Better information. Stronger coordination. Better support,” Mr. Bryan said. “That is how we strengthen public safety.”
