Bryan said U.S. Virgin Islands would expand anti-crime efforts after federal guidance on COVID-19 relief funds

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on June 26, 2021, that the U.S. Virgin Islands planned to expand crime-fighting efforts after the Biden administration said some federal COVID-19 relief funds could be used for public safety.

According to Government House, new U.S. Treasury guidance allowed states and territories to use direct aid to hire police and other law-enforcement personnel, prosecute gun traffickers and buy technology to respond to gun violence. Public schools also could use federal rescue funds for community violence intervention and other public-safety strategies.

Bryan said the territory planned to use the funding to buy equipment, hire more officers, add cameras to its surveillance network and purchase additional scanning equipment at ports.

Government House cited Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor as saying the territory recorded 3,119 violent crimes and 608 arrests in 2019-2020, compared with 4,324 violent crimes and 524 arrests in 2017-2018. It also said police seized 375 firearms in 2019-2020, compared with 256 in 2017-2018.

The release said the territory recorded 192 homicides from 2017 through 2020, resulting in 55 arrests. Of those arrests, 39 occurred in 2019 and 2020, compared with 16 in 2017 and 2018.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-to-escalate-usvi-crime-fighting-strategies-after-president-says-covid-funds-can-be-used-to-end-gun-violence/