Police officers who have been working from under a tent outside their dilapidated temporary quarters for weeks in downtown Charlotte Amalie are to move into their newly refurbished permanent headquarters half a block away by week's end.
Gov. Charles. W. Turnbull announced the impending move Wednesday, saying renovation work on the north wing of the Farrelly Criminal Justice Complex is nearly completed.
Police Department administration and operations offices are expected eventually to occupy the basement, ground level and second floor of the complex. The Bureau of Corrections is located on the top floor.
At a Government House meeting Wednesday, Police Commissioner Franz Christian said "the final cleanup" was taking place to allow the Zone A Command to relocate to the Justice Center, also known as the Territorial Court complex, "by the end of the week."
The move will thus take place in the midst of construction activity at Carnival Village where booths and the stage are being built and amusement rides are being assembled. The Village is in the Fort Christian parkling lot, which abuts the current Zone A Command structure and is across the street from the justice complex.
Lack of money to complete the renovations at the police headquarters building and the fact that Territorial Court assumed responsibility for the work were among several factors resulting in on-again, off-again progress on the building.
