Governor Bryan says reforms strengthen accountability systems and build public confidence in the men and women who serve
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. today announced that the Virgin Islands Police Department has established compliance with the federal consent decree that has governed core policing reforms since the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit in 2008 and the consent decree was entered by the District Court in 2009.
Governor Bryan said the milestone reflects a monumental achievement under his administration and a sustained, disciplined effort to stay the course until the work was completed and proven in practice.
“This is a monumental achievement, and the people of the Virgin Islands should understand what it represents,” Governor Bryan said. “We stayed the course to make sure VIPD’s systems are strengthened and sustained, so our community can have confidence in the work of the men and women in blue. This ultimately improves public trust and strengthens support for VIPD, which directly supports safer neighborhoods across our Territory.”
The court supervised agreement required VIPD to strengthen the foundation of constitutional policing, with sustained standards for use of force, supervision, investigations, public complaint intake and resolution, risk management, and accountability. Compliance reflects verified performance in these areas over time and confirms that policies are being implemented through daily operations, documentation, supervisory review, and internal accountability systems.
Police Commissioner Mario Brooks said the department’s achievement reflects years of work by officers, supervisors, and civilian professionals who strengthened internal practices and raised expectations. “Compliance reflects a department that has built durable systems,” Commissioner Brooks said. “It shows that our standards for supervision, documentation, review, and accountability are operating as required and can be sustained.”
Governor Bryan noted that VIPD’s compliance milestone follows achievements by other agencies that reflect stronger oversight and improved grant stewardship. The Virgin Islands Department of Labor reported the removal of its workplace safety division from a federal high risk designation. The Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission also announced it has been removed from the U.S. Department of Justice high risk designation, restoring full access to key federal public safety grant funding.
Governor Bryan also pointed to continued progress by the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections in meeting standards tied to long running federal court oversight, including court action that terminated medical care provisions of the John A. Bell facility settlement agreement while other requirements continue to be addressed.
Under the VIPD consent decree, the department was required to implement reforms that sharpen how it prevents, reviews, and addresses uses of force. Those requirements include clearer use of force policies, stronger supervisory review, improved investigative quality control, and a structured process for identifying concerning patterns early so leadership can intervene through training, counseling, closer supervision, or discipline when warranted by the facts.
Compliance also reflects improvements that affect public confidence and day to day community interactions. The decree required an accessible citizen complaint process with defined expectations for intake, tracking, investigation, and outcomes, along with public facing options for submitting concerns.
Governor Bryan emphasized that this milestone strengthens public safety by supporting consistent, professional policing across the Territory, reducing preventable incidents, improving the reliability of investigations, and reinforcing the principle that accountability is a core function of policing.
“Compliance is not a finish line. It is a standard,” Governor Bryan said. “Our expectation is constitutional policing, professional service, and accountability every day. We are proud of the public sector employees who did this work, and we are proud of the officers who continue to serve with professionalism and commitment.”
Governor Bryan recognized the work of VIPD officers and supervisors, the Virgin Islands Department of Justice, and the independent monitoring process that helped verify implementation and sustainability of reforms.
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