The Virgin Islands Police Department has purchased 21 new police vehicles from Antilles Automotive with funds from a $1.18 million Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, according to statements from Government House this week.
Spokeswoman Rina Jacobs McBrowne said Friday that more than $500,000 of the grant went to the purchase of 15 Chevy Impalas for St. Croix and six Chevy Blazers for St. Thomas-St. John, each of them equipped to meet police standards. The remainder of the grant will go toward maintenance of the new vehicles as well as the purchase of uniforms and equipment for officers, she said.
In a statement earlier this week, Police Commissioner Franz Christian said more vehicles will be purchased in the coming months. Some St. Croix vehicles were taken off the street recently when cracks were discovered in their chassis.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the LLEBG program provides funds to local governments to help reduce crime and improve public safety. The projects underwritten must be aimed at supporting law enforcement, enhancing security measures in and around schools, establishing or supporting drug courts, enhancing the adjudication of violent offenders, establishing multijurisdictional law enforcement task forces, enhancing crime prevention programs and defraying the costs of indemnification insurance.
