Following a meeting earlier this week with downtown Christiansted business owners, Gov. Charles Turnbull ordered an increased police presence for the area.
Turnbull, Senate President Vargrave Richards, Police Commissioner Franz Christian and about 35 members of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retail Association met Tuesday evening to discuss recent muggings on the new section of boardwalk, a thin police presence and poor street lighting, said Kelly Odom, president of the CRRA.
After a nighttime tour of the boardwalk and other sections of lower downtown, Turnbull directed Christian to increase the overall police presence in the area, a Government House release said.
"(Turnbull) was really open to helping us and Christiansted," Odom said. "He actually walked the whole downtown and the boardwalk. We really had his attention."
In September, visiting U.S. Navy personnel were mugged on the new section of boardwalk. Since then another incident has occurred. St. Croix Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis has said short staffing within the department has made patrolling the western-most section of the boardwalk, in addition to the rest of downtown, difficult.
But he said an increase in police bicycle patrols will help in covering the area.
Meanwhile, Turnbull will meet with V.I. Water and Power Authority and Department of Public Works officials to "make certain there is proper lighting and timely garbage collections" downtown, the release said.
