CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Police Department under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Operations Celwin Walwyn is bringing M.A.G.I.C. to the territory.
The M.A.G.I.C. program stands for Mentoring, Advising, Guiding, Instructing and Children.
This 10-week program is aimed towards 5th grade students. The program is designed to provide children with the tools necessary to understand the dangers of drug use and issues like bullying, violence, Internet use and gang involvement.
The central focus of the program identifies throughout every stage in the lesson objectives the importance of positive decision making.
This initiative is in collaboration with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Orlando, Florida and the Orange County Sheriff Department’s Lt. Sean McCormack, who conducted the training.
Walwyn said “the best chances for success for children requires the involvement of the parents/guardians, educators and the community as a whole.”
The VIPD conducted training for the school resource officers and the Juvenile divisions in both districts , who is now certified as instructors and will be intricately involved in training other officers, teachers and parents in the territory.
Upon certification of the officers Director Gleston McIntosh of POST (Peace Officers Standard Training) will ensure officers certification upon successful completion of the training.
The program has contributed to a significant drop in juvenile crime in Orange County, Florida where it began.
Walwyn served as the Police Commissioner in St.Kitts and introduced the program there and he said it resulted in “a drastic reduction in juvenile crimes” in St. Kitts.
