The United States Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), officially the Police Department of the United States Virgin Islands, is the law enforcement agency for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has jurisdiction anywhere in the territory. It is commanded by a commissioner, who is subject to the authority of the governor.[1]

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is responsible for policing the British Virgin Islands.

History

VIPD officers in 2012
Ford Police Interceptor Utility in VIPD service
Old VIPD patch, used from 1981 to 2020.

Under the 1936 Organic Act of the Virgin Islands,[2] law enforcement was divided between the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John and the municipality of St. Croix, each of which had a separate Police and Prison Department.[3]

In 1954, revisions were made to the Organic Act that required that the municipal departments be reorganized as part of a territorial executive branch.[3]

The current Virgin Islands Police Department traces its origin to the establishment of the Department of Public Safety, which contained a Police Division, on July 21, 1955.[4]

In 1981, the department adopted a new patch,[5] which was used until November 2020 when a new one was introduced.[6] The department was renamed the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in 1985.[4] In 2003, the department adopted a seal, which is also featured on its flag.[5]

Fleet

The VIPD operates a variety of vehicles, including cars and SUVs.[7] In 2018 it acquired a fleet of Segways and electric cars for patrolling downtown areas of St. Thomas.[8]

References

  1. ^ "V.I. Code tit. 23, § 2 (2019)". Virgin Islands Code. 2019. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  2. ^ Elton Lewis. "Looking Back: A Simpler, More Respectful Time". St. John Tradewinds News. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  3. ^ a b Greenberg, Martin Alan (2014). American Volunteer Police: Mobilizing for Security. CRC Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-4822-3254-7.
  4. ^ a b "History". United States Virgin Islands Police Department. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  5. ^ a b "Flag, Seal & Patch". U.S. Virgin Islands: U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department. 2010. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010.
  6. ^ "New Uniform Reveal". U.S. Virgin Islands: U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department. November 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "VIPD Is a Big Step Closer To Having Vehicles It Needs". Virgin Islands Source. 2005-09-10. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  8. ^ Brian O'Connor (2017-03-17). "VIPD debuts new downtown vehicles". Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands
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