CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Police Commissioner took to the airwaves Good Friday to give a strong message to the territory about the recent violence in Hospital Ground, St. Thomas: the VIPD has a “person of interest” in the homicides and shootings — and they are committing every resource of the department to capture the person or persons involved.
Appearing on WSTA-AM 1340 “Lucky 13” with host Peter Ottley about 4:28 p.m. Friday, Commissioner Trevor Velinor said that the VIPD is hot on the Hospital Ground suspects’ trails.
TREVOR VELINOR: We’re investigating not only the guns, but those individuals who we believe are involved in these types of activities. It’s an ongoing investigation. With that being the case, we’re asking the public to provide whatever information they can towards helping us to resolve and address these individuals who have adversely impacted our community.
We don’t take this lightly, folks. You know, we understand on the one hand, we’re dealing with a very aggressive virus in our community, in the form of COVID-19. On the other hand, We’re dealing with a very aggressive individual or individuals in our community, who are trying to do us harm in our community and have done harm to the community.
So, we’re going to continue to investigate and we are going to bring this person to justice. With that being said, you’re going to see more policing. Which means, that if you see people out on the streets, folks, everyone has heard the Governor’s order: “Stay at home — because of the COVID-19.” So we’re addressing that. We’re going to be re-directing people.
You know, as people enter into that community, the Hospital Ground area, and other areas of our islands, particularly on St. Thomas, you are going to likely have engagement with police officers asking you: “Where you’re going? What’s your business on our streets, on our roadways?” Asking you for identification and so forth.
We are going to literally focus our energies towards two things: One is getting justice for those who have been adversely impacted — that means an entire community — and also continue to maintain the safety relative to the COVID-19 within our territory. So we want you to know, that we, the Virgin Islands Police Department — we continue to be very supportive of the mandates, but we are also very much a part of our community — and we’re asking the community to help us, relative to any information they have, relative to what’s happening within the Hospital Ground area.
WSTA-1340-AM Radio Host Peter Ottley asked Commissioner Velinor if there was a hotline number people could call with information about the incidents of violence in Hospital Ground.
TREVOR VELINOR: For those who really want to provide information but want to do so, but want to do so with a certain level of confidentiality, secrecy, they can absolutely call Crimestopper (1-800-222-8477). We say that time and time again. Call Crimestopper if you’re uncomfortable. Also, you can call VIPD. You know, so, at the end of the day, we’re going to tell the number over and over again (1-800-222-8477).
But, it’s very important that we “say something, when we see something.” It’s so important. I also have here with me, the St. Thomas-St. John) Police Chief (Ludrick Thomas). He’s here to provide some insight as to what we’re doing. But I’m here to tell you, that as the commissioner of police, we, the men and women of the V.I. Police Department, we’re so, so indebted to the community, and to the support that the community has given to us over the years and we will do everything that we can to continue to pursue those who are trying to really cause havoc on our community.
I take it personal. You know, as I process through this, I still don’t quite comprehend how individuals can see their neighbors walking down the street and do what has been done. We’ve had five people shot in our community. Three people killed in our community. By all standards, that’s not the way that we live our lives. You know, that is not humane living. You know, we know that the craze and we know that, right now, a lot of the focus is on COVID-19, the coronavirus, but in the territory to put it in perspective, we’re doing a lot of things right when it comes to COVID-19. Yes, we do have 50 positives for the territory, but we’re doing a lot of things right. Right? And consequently, we’ve had one person who has succumbed to COVID-19. In the last, three, four days, we’ve had three people that were killed in one of our communities, particularly Hospital Ground as you’ve heard me say before.
You know, and we need to have outcry, we need to be angry, we need to be angry about those who are doing these types of activities. Hence, we, the Virgin Islands Police Department, we’re going to be very aggressive in dealing with those who are out on the streets. I went through Hospital Ground earlier today, myself and the Assistant Commissioner (Mario Brooks) went through. And anyone that we saw on the streets, we asked: “Hey! What are you doing? Why are you here?” You know, so we are asking those questions. And yes, some people have some business to take care of. Some people have to go to work. We get that. But if you have no reason to be out, right? Again, there’s an order from the Governor: “Stay at home.” We’re trying to handle the COVID-19 issue; but, likewise, we want your support. We want whatever information you have to provide us with relative to anybody or any information related to these incidents of violence — these shooting incidents in this particular community.
WSTA-AM 1340 “Lucky 13” Radio Host Peter Ottley introduces St. Thomas-St. John Police Chief Ludrick Thomas.
LUDRICK THOMAS: Good afternoon, Mr. Ottley and good afternoon to the people of the Virgin Islands. As the Commissioner pointed out, the department is engaged — and we’re on top of the situation — as, the best we can. I want to assure the community, especially the individuals that reside in the Hospital Ground area — all available manpower is being dispatched to this situation and to that particular area. You will see, or I’m sure you have seen from this morning, police manpower in the area. I want to thank the community for coming forward with information because you imagine that people are being worried and they are coming forward. And we thank them for coming forward. And we encourage individuals to come forward. We will spare no expense — and I want it to be made clear — in resolving the situation at Hospital Ground. What’s happening is not good. I am not fond of what’s happening. The department is not fond of what’s happening. The officers themselves are not fond of what’s happening and they are out there doing their best to ensure that whatever plan that we put in place to combat this situation or to be on top of this situation that is being done. And I also want to take the opportunity to publicly commend the officers, as I always do, in their part, for doing their part, to ensure the safety of this community and to ensure the safety of the people in the Hospital Ground area. So, at this time, we are open to any questions, or comments or suggestions that you might have.
CALLER 1: says he has lived in St. Thomas for 40 years and offers to point out to the commissioner the areas of Hospital Ground where he believes there should be a police presence and says: “you should have put a stop to this from the beginning. I mean, I feel hurtful.”
CALLER 2: “I’m outraged. I live in Hospital Ground. I have young children in my home. OK? And I have my husband and my daughter in here. And to be constantly under siege from these bullets and stuff — it’s really overbearing. This is not the first time we’ve spoken about it. I called you on another talk show about it. We don’t see any police around here. And you’re talking to somebody who works in the VIPD and knows better. So maybe you’all could snow people and fool people but you can’t fool me. OK? You’all know who it is and what it is that is going around here. Because I could find out what went on around here. OK? So you’all need to act on it and stop fooling the people into believing that you’all are going to do something about it, and actually do something about it. It’s a drug war going on around here and anybody in my family gets hurt, I’m not going to take it lightly. I’m very upset. Because that last episode with that guy (Michael) McKie was very, very scary. OK? You’all playing you have strategies, you have a deputy commissioner with a Ph.D (Celvin G. Walwyn of St. Kitts). What are they doing? What are you’all doing? Where is the plan to correct the problem in here? Don’t say you’all are going to come here today, tomorrow and next week and then, two-three weeks from now we have another shooting up here. Because this is only the beginning of it.
TO BE CONTINUED …
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