NCJ Number
47435
Date Published
1977
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION, OPERATION, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ACTIVITIES OF THE ROYAL VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE FORCE ARE REVIEWED FOR THE YEAR 1977.
Abstract
FORCE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION IS REVIEWED, AND POLICE PERSONNEL DISTRIBUTION, RANK, AND LEVEL-OF-EXPERIENCE ARE PRESENTED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INTERNAL AFFAIRS, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT IS INCLUDED. RECRUITMENT EFFORTS CONTINUE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF LOCAL RECRUITMENT, AND INCLUDE LECTURES ON POLICE CAREERS AT HIGH SCHOOLS. INSERVICE TRAINING HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR FORCE MEMBERS, PRIMARILY CONSISTING OF WEAPONS TRAINING. COMPARATIVE CRIME FIGURES FOR OFFENSES FROM 1973 THROUGH 1977 ARE PRESENTED BY TYPE OF OFFENSE. THERE WAS A 26-PERCENT DECREASE IN TOTAL CRIME IN 1977 COMPARED TO 1976. THIS DECREASE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCREASED PREVENTIVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING A DUTY OFFICER SYSTEM, MORE PATROLS IN COMMERCIAL AND TOURIST AREAS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLICE ADVICE PAMPHLETS AMONG TOURISTS. A 9.8-PERCENT INCREASE IN OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS WAS SEEN IN 1977. HOWEVER, PROPERTY OFFENSES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER: SIMPLE LARCENY DECREASED 22.5 PERCENT, AND BREAKING AND ENTERING DECREASED 31.4 PERCENT, AND BREAKING WERE 16 PERCENT AND 29.5 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY. SIMPLE LARCENY CONTINUED AS THE MOST PREVALENT OFFENSE. FORENSIC AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AIDED IN THE FIRST MURDER INVESTIGATION IN 5 YEARS. A HIGH STANDARD IN STATISTICAL DATA RECORDING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, AND TRAFFIC DATA WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMING YEAR. DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES OF SPECIALIZED BRANCHES ARE DELINEATED, AND ADDITIONAL POLICE DUTIES ARE OUTLINED. TABULAR DATA FOR CRIME REPORTS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND DISPOSITIONS ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)