CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Police Department continues to engage the community’s youths and families territory-wide by providing several enrichment programs and work ethics and entrepreneurship skills for hundreds of youths ages five through 17 during the summer months.
Through the Department’s Crime Prevention Bureau, several programs are conducted which includes the Summer Enrichment Program, Police Athletic League, Drug Education for Youth one Week Residential Camp, the PAL Mentoring Program, and the World of Work and Entrepreneurship Program.
The Crime Prevention Bureau in partnership with Sports Parks and Recreation also sponsor’s the VIPD Summer Basketball League in the St. Croix District.
The Summer League is an annual event coordinated by the School Security Bureau under the leadership of Officer Anthony Osbourne. A total of 10 teams with 90 players participates in this league. Games are held four days a week at the St. Croix Educational Complex Gym.
In most of the program’s participants continue to build on their reading, writing and mathematical skills, they also learn how to do the following: swim, kick boxing, martial arts, arts and craft, various sports, leadership. They also attend weekly educational field trips.
Presenters from various agencies and organizations come out to educate the participants on fire safety, hurricane preparedness, peer pressure, bullying, gangs, guns, building positive relationships and much more.
In addition, through partnership with the Department of Labor and the Legislature eighteen participants 14 & 15 years old are taught work ethics and entrepreneurship skills.
Director Jacqueline Freeman credits the success of these programs largely to the continued collaboration of agencies and organizations such as the United States Attorney’s Office, Project Safe Neighborhoods VI, Department of Labor, DEA/HIDTA, US Marshals, Superior Court, Virgin Islands National Guard, Department of Education, Legislature, DVSAC, My Brother’s Workshop, Prophecy Church, Bovoni Baptiste Church and the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
VIPD continue to look for positive role models within the community to mentor a child and or assist with their various programs.
To get involve you can contact in the St. Croix District Crime Prevention Bureau Supervisor, Sgt. Richard White at 340-226-5084 in the St. Thomas/St. John District Supervisor, Lt. Bridget Conow at 340-643-0110, Kathleen Powell 340-513-3737 and or Director Jacqueline Freeman at 340-344-4516.
VIPD building a positive relationship between our communities’ youths and families.