After two weeks marked by gun violence and public unease, Police Commissioner Mario Brooks delivered a clear message Thursday morning: crime in the Virgin Islands is not spiraling out of control. Speaking at a press conference, Brooks acknowledged the pain of recent killings but pushed back on what he called a growing perception that violence is unchecked.
“While many of us feel like things are out of control, the data shows something different,” he said.
According to Brooks, Part 1 offenses — major crimes tracked by the FBI, such as murder, robbery, assault, and burglary — have decreased by 19% so far this year. He credited the drop to intelligence-led policing, strategic patrols, and a community that’s more willing to cooperate with law enforcement. “We have made strides over the past few years by successfully removing several local gang leaders from our streets,” he said. “This is no accident — it’s the result of focused policing, determined investigations, and a dynamic shift in a community that barely spoke to the police to one that is now choosing to speak up.”
Still, the headlines from the past week tell a harder story. At around 2:45 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run at Oswald Harris Court on St. Thomas. They found 28-year-old Shyiane Degallerie shot multiple times. He later died at Schneider Regional Medical Center. His death marked the 17th homicide in the territory this year, compared to 15 at this time in 2024. Brooks said VIPD has “someone that we’re looking at” in the case.
Earlier last week, 38-year-old Jordan “Dutty Heart” Jones was killed in a midday shooting on the Christensted boardwalk on St. Croix. A 15-year-old male has since been arrested. On Sunday night, three people were wounded in a drive-by outside Carlos’ Bar in Peter’s Rest, which police, who recovered more than 60 spent shell casings at the scene, believe may have been retaliatory.
“These are not organized, gang-related killings,” Brooks said. “These are conflicts between individuals — some within the home — and those are the hardest to prevent. They happen in private, and often escalate with little warning.”
He emphasized that while these cases may be difficult to predict, they are not beyond intervention. “We believe these acts are also more preventable — if we’re willing to change how we approach and handle our conflicts with each other,” he said. Brooks encouraged residents to seek help early, pointing to services like anger management and family counseling available through Human Services and the Family Resource Center. “It is okay to ask for help before things spiral out of control.”
Brooks also outlined key changes in VIPD’s strategy, saying the department now uses data to guide officer deployment, prioritizing presence in high-risk areas identified through crime reports. He cited the use of ShotSpotter and drone technology as tools that are increasing response times and helping maximize manpower without overreliance on overtime and added that airport checkpoints have remained effective in intercepting illegal firearms. Progress continues on plans for a territorial crime lab, with support from federal partners like the FBI, but a lack of funding has continued to prevent the effort from being fully realized, he said.
When asked about staffing, Brooks said the department is always in need of more officers and continues to recruit, while shifting deployment to reduce unnecessary overtime. He noted that areas like the Christiansted Boardwalk are under review to track how quickly officers are arriving on scene. “Presence matters — but so does how quickly we get there. And how fast we’re told what’s happening,” he said. “The presence of an officer can be a deterrent, but the community has to communicate. We can’t be everywhere at once.”
Despite the recent spike in deadly incidents, Brooks said VIPD is seeing progress, not only in the numbers, but in trust. “These leadership shifts are already showing results, both in performance and community cooperation,” he said. “The public is fed up. They’re coming forward. That’s why arrests are being made.”
