Acting Police Commissioner Novelle Francis breezed through his confirmation hearing by a 5-0 vote Thursday evening, sending him onto the full legislative body for a final vote.
A familiar face from many a senate hearing since first holding high office as territorial police chief in 2001, Francis took an intense but friendly grilling before the all-but foregone conclusion.
Senate President Louis Hill took Francis to task over foot patrols and police presence in the community.
"Every commissioner I have seen before this body, they have all said the same thing: community policing," Hill said. "This whole thing of walking the streets, it has been a complete failure, speaking for St. Thomas. … It’s not happening, every commissioner says they will do it and it doesn’t happen. … Look at Kirwan Terrace. If we cannot control that neighborhood where the police are right next door, I just don’t understand. One criterion I will hold you by is whether the police can clean up Kirwan Terrace."
Francis tied increased patrols to manpower issues and the department’s recent efforts to recruit and train more officers, ultimately agreeing with Hill.
"I would confess Kirwan Terrace is in fact a problem area and one I’m preparing to tackle," he said.
Asked by Sen. Nereida "Nellie" O’Reilly for his long terms goals for the department, Francis said he would hope to satisfy and lift a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice concerning police use of force, national accreditation of the force and the building of a training academy.
Noting Francis had been on the police force for 22 years and in top management for nearly a decade, Hill asked whether his status as an insider could be a hindrance.
"You have been in the police force your entire career," Hill said. "You know what is wrong and what is good in the force, but you have also been there. … Can you make the changes that need to be made despite your long association?"
Francis said he would demonstrate he could.
"Certainly I know what the problems are and I believe I could be that change agent," he said.
Born and raised on St. Croix, Francis first worked at the Police Department back in high school through a "school to work" program. After high school, he studied criminology and police science in New York and later at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix. He joined the department in 1987, rising through the ranks and becoming territorial police chief in 2001. In 2007 Gov. John deJongh, Jr. appointed him to the post of assistant commissioner, and since the resignation of Commissioner James McCall in May, Francis has been acting commissioner.
Voting to forward Francis’ nomination to the full Senate were Sens.Neville James, Terrence “Positive” Nelson, Sammuel Sanes Patrick Sprauve and Michael Thurland. Sens. Celestino White and Carlton “Ital” Dowe were absent. Sens. Nereida “Nellie” O’Reilly and Usie Richards were also present though not members of the committee.
