A 76-year-old tourist from Williamsburg, Va., who was mugged in St. Thomas has lambasted the police response to the crime in the June 1999 edition of International Travel News.
A.E. McKenney wrote that "the initial police inactions were unprofessional, inexcusable and completely unacceptable," and urged all cruise ship lines to "take Charlotte Amalie, USVI, off their list of ports of call."
International Travel News has a circulation of 50,000 readers who are, according to its editor, David Tykol, well-traveled, well-educated and well-off. Tykol said 98 percent of the magazine's readers have passports.
Police Chief Jose Garcia said he needed to verify the details of the incident and couldn't comment until he did. But, he added, if McKenney's version is correct, "I won't defend what I know is wrong."
According to McKenney, he was walking in broad daylight on Garden Street when "two men came up behind me. The one on the right hit me hard on the right side while the one on my left ripped the strap of my camcorder down off my shoulder."
McKenney wrote, "These guys were professionals; it happened in a flash and was well-orchestrated." The incident occurred Jan. 23, 1998. Tykol said he was waiting for space to print it. "I was concerned that it was old, but felt it was still important to print it," he said. McKenney began chasing the two thugs down the street, according to his letter to the magazine. When they turned into an alley, he realized he was over-matched and decided to find the police.
His letter continues: "As I rounded the corner I spotted a patrol car a short block down. I ran to it and rapped on the window. The office rolled the window down. 'Can you help me?' I asked. "'Call 911,' the policeman said. 'Can't you help me or call the station or call 911 from your car?' I asked. 'Find a phone and call 911,' he said.
"Then he rolled up the window in his air-conditioned car." McKenney found little relief from a local shopkeeper who "pointed out a phone up the street next to a cafe. I went to the phone and, after a woman finished using it, I dialed 911." This was not the end of McKenney's ordeal.
"As I was talking to the 911 operator, another police car pulled up in front of the cafe and two police got out, one male, one female.
I called the female police office over. 'I have just been socked and robbed. I am on the line with 911 at the moment. Can you speak to the 911 operator and give me some help?'
"'911 has to take care of it,' she said. She and the other officer then walked into the cafe, leaving me to finish my conversation with 911."
Eventually 911 did direct three bike patrol officers to McKenney. With the officers he recovered his glasses and they warned another couple that two thugs were in the area.
Tykol said, "All our readers travel overseas. They write to inform and protect each other. We print their comments, good or bad."
Tykol said it is usually the magazine's practice to send a copy of a negative letter to the offending company and then "we print the reply from the company, too."
He said they didn't in this case because they didn't know whom to send it to.
"We did not doubt that this took place," he added. "Our readers trust each other."
Tykol said he would consider faxing the letter to Chief Garcia for investigation. One unique feature of the magazine is that the bulk of the articles are written by globetrotters who comprise a large network of serious travelers.
