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USVI police attend plenary sessions
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| Published on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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ST THOMAS, USVI -- Acting Commissioner Novelle Francis convened plenary sessions on St Thomas and St Croix in the US Virgin islands to allow officers to voice their concerns directly to the commissioner, chiefs of police and deputy police chiefs.
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USVI Governor John
deJongh, Jr. Photo:
Susan Mann |
Governor John de Jongh also participated in the sessions which were held Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10. More than 225 police officers along with civilian staff members attended the meetings which lasted about three and a half hours each.
Francis opened each session with remarks. Francis said he was “not disillusioned by the magnitude” of the task ahead of him as he is poised to be confirmed as Police Commissioner by the Senate. Francis said he has prepared himself for this moment from a young age.
“I took the time to carry myself as a police officer was supposed to,” said Commissioner Francis who is a 22 year police veteran who rose through the ranks, holding every rank and position in the department during his career.
Governor de Jongh delivered comments to officers in both districts. He emphasized the personal respect he has for police officers and thanked them for their service. De Jongh reminded the officers that they continue to be “under the microscope” when it comes to their perception in the community. He concluded his remarks by pledging his support for the direction Acting Commissioner Francis was taking the department. The governor stayed for several hours answering questions from the group.
Topics discussed at the plenary session included the Consent Decree, the new E911 emergency system, police radio coverage, community orientated policing, union and salary issues, building security, technical equipment and upgrades and a myriad of other issues.
“We embrace the Consent Decree,” Francis said. “It will take us were we want to be – a model police department.”
Internal Affairs Director Curtis Griffin explained the provisions of the Consent Decree, and MIS Director Ofari Benjamin outlined the new E 911 system and the upgrades to the police mobile radio system.
Francis addressed Community Policing pledging that all rookie police officers will be paired with seasoned officers and assigned to patrol by scoter, bicycle or on foot in high traffic residential and commercial areas.
“We will build this community brick by brick,” Francis said. “This community is yearning for changes; they are tired of living in fear.”
Francis laid out his plans and expectations for the police department reminding officers of the need to go back to basic policing and enforcing all laws, and serve the public with respect.
The plenary sessions are an effective method for the rank and file officers to express their concerns directly to the senior officers, Francis said. The addition of Governor de Jongh to these sessions sent a message to the officer that this administration in serious in its commitment to the police department. | | | | Reads : 817 | | | |
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