V.I.P.D. 'Moving In The Direction Of Change,' Commissioner Says, As Force Seeks $66.8 Million Budget
- Ernice Gilbert
- June 16, 2016
ST. CROIX -- Police Commissioner Delroy Richards, above, said on Wednesday that there were changes on multiple fronts happening now at the Virgin Islands Police Department, defending the force's fiscal year 2017 budget of $66,889,820 before senators who make up the Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Clifford Graham. Held at the Fritz E. Lawaetz Legislative Hall here, Mr. Richards divulged details on various issues affecting the force. Yet, as he spoke, it became clear that many of the issues that affected the Police Department in 2015, are some of the same troubles it face this year. Mr. Richards spoke of the consent decree that the V.I.P.D. has been under since a 2008 federal lawsuit, and predicted that the force would not meet the August deadline and would therefore seek an extension. Overtime pay, like last year, remains a stubborn problem at the department. According to Mr. Graham, the V.I.P.D. has expended near $10 million in overtime costs for this 2016, and is expecte...
