United States Virgin Islands Police Department

The United States Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), officially the Police Department of the United States Virgin Islands, is the law enforcement agency for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has jurisdiction anywhere in the territory. It is commanded by a commissioner, who is subject to the authority of the governor.^[1]

United States Virgin Islands Police Department Police Department of the United States Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands Police patch, introduced in 2020
Great Seal, adopted in 2003
Flag of the VIPD
Common name	Virgin Islands Police Department
Abbreviation	VIPD
Agency overview
Formed	1955
Jurisdictional structure
Legal jurisdiction	United States Virgin Islands
Operational structure
Headquarters	Alexander Farrelly Criminal Justice Center
Agency executives	Mario Brooks, Commissioner Sidney Elskoe, Assistant Commissioner Jason Marsh, Deputy Commissioner Sean Santos, St. Croix Chief of Police Steven Phillip, St. Thomas-St. John Chief of Police Toby Derima, Public Information Director
Website
vipd.vi.gov

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is responsible for policing the British Virgin Islands.

History

VIPD officers in 2012

Ford Police Interceptor Utility in VIPD service

Old VIPD patch, used from 1981 to 2020.

Under the 1936 Organic Act of the Virgin Islands,^[2] law enforcement was divided between the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John and the municipality of St. Croix, each of which had a separate Police and Prison Department.^[3]

In 1954, revisions were made to the Organic Act that required that the municipal departments be reorganized as part of a territorial executive branch.^[3]

The current Virgin Islands Police Department traces its origin to the establishment of the Department of Public Safety, which contained a Police Division, on July 21, 1955.^[4]

In 1981, the department adopted a new patch,^[5] which was used until November 2020 when a new one was introduced.^[6] The department was renamed the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in 1985.^[4] In 2003, the department adopted a seal, which is also featured on its flag.^[5]

Line of duty deaths

The VIPD has lost 15 officers since founding.^[7]

Fleet

The VIPD operates a variety of vehicles, including cars and SUVs.^[8] In 2018 it acquired a fleet of Segways and electric cars for patrolling downtown areas of St. Thomas.^[9]