ST. THOMAS -- Governor Kenneth Mapp has issued an executive order under Title 23, Section 1005 calling on all executive branch peace officers to assist the Virgin Islands Police Department during the 2016 St. John Festival activities, Government House said late Friday.
The executive order calls for all executive branch peace officers in the St.Thomas and St. John District to be deputized as law enforcement officers of the Virgin Islands. These deputized officers will perform public safety functions in that district from July 1 through July 4, 2016. All Peace Officers in the St. Thomas and St. John district will report to the commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department through the Chief of Police at 6:00 pm tonight. Orders and assignments will be executed at that time.
Mr. Mapp stated in his order that “there is a need to increase police presence on the streets of our communities,” and cited a recent series of shooting in the St. Thomas district that have resulted in death and injury to persons in the community. The Peace Officers will provide additional manpower to the V.I.P.D. to ensure the safety and well-being of all that are participating in the festivities over the long weekend in St. John.
Image Credit: St. John Festival
