The U.S. Marshal's Service has been holding more than $300,000 in federal funds earmarked for the V.I. Police Department for more than a year, and Sen. Carlton Dowe has asked Gov. Charles W. Turnbull to immediately sign into law part of the Omnibus Bill that would create a special fund for the monies.
In a statement Tuesday, Dowe said that he learned in discussions with Conrad Hoover, U.S. marshal for the Virgin Islands, that "these checks have been withheld for more than one year, because funds received in the past were mingled in with General Fund monies, a practice the federal government prohibits."
There was no immediate comment from Government House. Hoover confirmed to The Avis that the money would go to local law enforcement agencies, primarily police, that aid federal agencies in investigating federal crimes that result in the forfeiture of property or cash. He said about $361,000 is being held and can go to local police operations, training and community activities.
Local police involved in federal operations can also be paid with the monies but not regular police officers, he said.
Dowe said Hoover told him once the V.I. government sets up a separate fund, the money will be released. The provision is included in the Omnibus Bill created in the last days of the 23rd Legislature and is awaiting Turnbull's signature.
Government House spokeswoman Rina Jacobs McBrowne said Wednesday morning that she has not seen a copy of Dowe's letter and could not comment, but she said the governor was working on the issue with his chief legal counsel. Police officials were unavailable for comment.
Police, corrections and other local law enforcement officers staged protests in October against poor working conditions and demanded their negotiated wage increases, but the teachers' strike overshadowed their complaints at the time.
