April 4, 2001 — An unidentified lineman with the V.I. Water and Power Authority was shot Tuesday night while he was replacing streetlights in Savan. The lineman was grazed in the side with a bullet and was taken to Roy L. Schneider Hospital for treatment.
He was released and was resting at home Wednesday, according to WAPA spokeswoman Patricia Blake Simmonds.
As a result of the shooting, WAPA has announced it will no longer replace streetlights after dark.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, Simmonds said, but she declined to say where linemen have been fired upon previously.
"We've had problems in both districts," she said.
In addition to linemen being shot, people have also been shooting out the streetlights after WAPA has replaced burnt-out bulbs.
Again, Simmonds declined to say in what areas the problems were occurring.
WAPA has asked the public to report such incidents to the Police Department by calling 911 or the hotline at 777-8711.
Simmonds said she spoke with Police spokeswoman Sgt. Annette Raimer who would be expecting the calls.
