The Virgin Islands Police Department’s Training Academy has begun new law enforcement recruit classes on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The classes started on Jan. 13.
In the St. Thomas-St. John District, there are 17 recruits in the VIPD Training Academy. In this class there are 13 VIPD recruits, two employed by the Superior Court, one by the Virgin Islands Legislature and one by the VI Port Authority.
There are 23 recruits in the St. Croix class. Eleven are employed by the VIPD, four by the Superior Court, three by Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center, three by the Office of the Governor, one by the Virgin Islands Legislature and one by the Department of Health.
A physical agility test and a psychological exam were part of the pre-screening for all recruits.
During the six-month course, recruits will be trained on report writing, forensic science, constitutional law and other relevant law enforcement topics.
Training Bureau Officer-in Charge Captain Maria Colon said of the classes, “Recruit training is a critical step in the law enforcement career of peace officers. We conduct a rigorous training that focuses on academics, physicality and firearms. Our program is compatible to the mainland and post certification is granted once all requirements are met.”
Commissioner Trevor Velinor said, “The Virgin Islands community needs the very best people to become police officers. Policing is a noble profession that emphasizes service to others. I look forward to witnessing the transformation of these 40 men and women as they become equipped with knowledge and skills to protect and serve our community.”
