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Aug. 6, 2008 – Senator-at-Large Carmen Wesselhoft said Wednesday she has been closely following recent reports of violent crime and is greatly disturbed by a growing sense of lawlessness.
"I am urging the VIPD leadership and the Governor to use any means necessary to bring an end to this ongoing gun violence," she said. "We must take back our streets from the criminals. When a police car is shot at in broad daylight things are clearly out of control."
Wesselhoft said praise was due to the many officers that risked their lives each day to protect the Virgin Islands.
"This is often a thankless job and most of these officers could have chosen an easier and more financially rewarding path," she said. "The VIPD consists primarily of extremely committed individuals dedicated to public service – I thank each and every one of you. I know that most of you are doing the very best you can with the little you have to work with."
However, Wesselhoft said, something is clearly amiss.
"I am calling on police officials to tell this body exactly what they need to end this surge of gun violence," she said. "I have proposed stiffer penalties for possessing an unlicensed firearm, but we need some short term remedies."
The Senator-at-Large counts one extremely positive recent development in terms of law enforcement on St. Croix. Officials have pledged their support for Wesselhoft's proposed La Valle substation at the site of the former Alexander I. Wilson School on Northshore Road. She has also submitted legislation for a new substation on the East End of St. Croix and has strongly supported emergency service centers, to include VIPD, in Red Hook and Coral Bay.
Bill No. 27-0179, sponsored by Wesselhoft, appropriates $100,000 for the Northshore project, which would convert the abandoned schoolhouse into an emergency services center with a fire, police and ambulance stationed on site. Finance Committee members recently voted unanimously in favor of Wesselhoft's plan for the new substation and Government engineers have begun making formal assessments of the former school.
"We can appropriate more money if it is found necessary for the renovation," she said. "My main concern is to get the ball rolling and bring the protection and services needed to the residents of La Valle, Mon Bijou, Salt River and the surrounding areas. It takes far too long for police, ambulance and fire to respond to any emergency and, in the case of the police, the criminals are taking advantage of this fact. I am also working on a plan to bring better radio communication to all public safety operations in that area."
Wesselhoft said she was deeply concerned about the growing sense of fear experienced by home and business owners.
"I recently had the opportunity to sit down with a group of Northshore residents to discuss their concerns," she said. "They are justifiably frustrated and frightened."
VIPD has responded favorably to Wesselhoft's request to bring a mobile Police substation to St. Croix's Northshore to serve residents until such time as renovations at the former school have been completed.
"This is a project I have been working on from almost day one," she said. "I must thank residents for their unwavering support of this endeavor. We will see this through together."
