The St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association honored V.I. Police Officers Arthur Joseph and Ralston Wright for their dedication and professionalism Monday evening at the Caravelle Hotel on St. Croix. The two were named St. Croix’s September and October police officers of the month by their peers.
Hotel Association President Lisa Hamilton said the association wants to honor the officers both as an expression of gratitude for their exemplary service and to build ties between the business community, the police department and the community at large.
Joseph’s commanding officer, Sgt. Joseph Platt, read off the reasons Joseph was selected for September. Joseph made seven arrests in September, including one for vehicular homicide, where a pedestrian was killed. He also handled 22 cases and wrote 43 citations, was never late, never called in sick, showed up to work when called in on his days off and takes pride and care in his equipment, his vehicle and his personal appearance.
"Officer Joseph is a great asset to the Traffic Investigation Bureau, the VIPD and the community" said Platt. "He is what we look for in a police officer."
Wright was commended by his commanding officer, Police Detective Terrence Desormeaux.
Wright, Desormeaux said, made four arrests in October, resulting in the confiscation of three guns, more than a pound of marijuana and more than $18,000 in cash from one drug bust.
"He’d have had six arrests, but the last two came in just after midnight on the last day," Desormeaux said.
The arrests all came as a result of traffic stops that led to probable cause for a search.
"Officer Wright demonstrates a keen sense of responsibility and devotion to his duties," Desormeaux said. "He is an exemplary officer who takes a no-nonsense approach to policing."
To select the officer of the month, commanders submit names of officers under their command and, based on their performance during the month, all the commanders vote. One officer from each island, whose performance and accomplishments exemplify professionalism and dedication above and beyond the call of duty, is selected each month.
On St. Thomas the V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association will hold a Police Officer of the Month ceremony Wednesday at noon at the Windward Passage Hotel for St. Thomas and St. John officers. St. John officers Lorna Clarke and Dennis Vanterpool and St. Thomas officers Doralyn Charles and Steven Payne are the respective September and October officers of the month for those islands.
