St. Croix District Deputy Police Chief Uston Cornelius looks on as heavy equipment is used to clean the area behind of the John F. Kennedy Terrace housing community. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — The V.I. Police Department on Wednesday led a cleanup operation at the John F. Kennedy Housing Community described as a joint effort organized with other local government agencies.
The V.I.P.D. said the cleanup operation was a result of receiving reports and complaints from nearby residents in the community of illegal activities; loitering, discharging of shots, animal neglect at the JFK housing community bushes and trees adjacent to the basketball court area.
The Police Department collaborated with St. Croix Administrator Samuel Sanes, the Waste Management Authority, the Department of Public Works, and the St. Croix Animal Shelter, according to a release the department issued Thursday.
Police Commissioner Ray Martinez discusses the cleanup operation with Animal Cruelty Investigator Daniel Rodriguez. (Credit: The V.I. Police Department)
The Department of Public Works, along with the Waste Management Authority, assisted with the clean-up, and the St. Croix Animal Shelter assisted with the removal of the neglected animals.
St. Croix District Police Chief Sean Santos was present at the JFK housing community with multiple officers from the V.I.P.D.'s patrol units. “This will be an ongoing initiative. We will continue to enforce the Broken Windows theory to aid law enforcement in fighting crime, as VIPD will be targeting various locations on island," Chief Santos said. "If it's an area of what appears to be heavy loitering or illegal activities, we are coming to clean up those areas to create visibility in those neighborhoods.”
He added, “The Virgin Islands Police Department will continue to answer the calls of the residents of this territory. You can always call the VIPD at (340) 778-2211 on St. Croix or (340) 774-2211 on St. Thomas or 911 to report illegal activities in your community,” Chief Santos stated.
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