U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Governor Albert Bryan Jr. congratulated the Virgin Islands Police Department’s graduating class of 2021-1 from the St. Thomas-St. John District, during a ceremony for the recruits at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
Fifteen recruits graduated and will join the ranks of the VIPD, while others will go to different departments, including the Bureau of Corrections, the V.I. Port Authority, the V.I. Department of Justice and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
“That really is the primary responsibility of your job, to keep Virgin Islanders safe, and the best way to keep them safe is to develop relationships and communicate with them so they want to keep you safe, too,” Governor Bryan said.
The Governor said that when he was growing up, people saw police as the people who were going to lock them up, and not as public servants who were there to protect them. But the community does not want to live in fear of the police, the Governor said.
“The majority of the times you will be doing things that you see people during the worst day of their life and helping them,” Governor Bryan said. “But on the best day of their lives, you should be there to support them, too. Say hello every time you pass. Say good morning. Inquire when you see them look lost or sad or lonely. Be that person that you would want them to be in your greatest time of need.”
The VIPD graduating Class of 2021-2 for recruits from the St. Croix District will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021, at the Canegata Recreation Center.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is committed to transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov