Senate Rules Committee Advances Trevor Velinor Nomination for Police Commissioner

The 33rd Legislature’s Rules and Judiciary Committee voted on August 26, 2019, to approve the nomination of Trevor Velinor as commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department.

Committee Chairwoman Janelle Sarauw, Senate President Novelle Francis Jr., and Sens. Myron Jackson, Kenneth Gittens and Alicia Barnes voted in favor of the nomination. Sen. Steven Payne voted against it, and Sen. Javan James was absent.

During testimony before the committee, Velinor discussed violent crime, firearms trafficking into the territory, police staffing shortages, issues related to the federal consent decree, traffic enforcement and his overall strategy for the department.

Velinor, a St. Croix native, had worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives since 1990. He served as an ATF special agent on St. Thomas from 1997 to 2001.

According to the Government House statement, Velinor held degrees in criminal justice, public administration and psychology.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/senate-rules-committee-votes-in-favor-of-bryan-roach-vipd-nominee-trevor-velinor/