March 20, 2003 – The governor's nomination of Elton Lewis to become Police commissioner has been delivered to the 25th Legislature.
In his transmittal letter to Senate President David Jones, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull asked for support for his choice of Lewis to succeed Franz Christian, who was relieved of his duties on Tuesday.
In announcing that he had accepted Christian's resignation and placed him on administrative leave, Turnbull said he would call for a "quick confirmation process" to get his new nominee on the job.
The administration has offered no explanation for the change of leadership of the Police Department. "The governor has never really given an official explanation for replacing any of the cabinet members," spokesman James O'Bryan said on Thursday.
Lewis, a retired V.I. police captain and former St. Croix police chief, also has worked in the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, in the Defense Department and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the V.I. National Guard and was project officer for its Weapons of Mass Destruction Program in 1999-2000.
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