In a statement regarding the two St. Thomas police officers injured in an Estate Contant shootout, V.I. Police Commissioner Henry White Jr. urged the V.I. government to grant federal agents peace officer status in the territory and laid out some new approaches to enforcement Wednesday. 
Officers Colvin Georges and Aaron Hodge were wounded when they came under fire in the Contant area on May 26. Gerald Jackson, 23, was shot and killed in the ensuing shootout. Jackson had been arrested in April when he was found with over 250 grams of crack cocaine, according to police.
The proliferation of guns in the territory and the wider Caribbean is at an epidemic proportion, White said. Recognizing this, federal agencies have recommended forming specialized gun squads focused on pursuing gun traffickers, he said. He intends to form such a squad and to address the associated drug and gang violence as well, White added.
"To do this will require teaming with our Federal Partners in ways we must improve upon. It is imperative that “Peace Officer” status be granted to ALL U.S. Federal Investigative Agencies to exact the full benefit of their abilities to address the onslaught of criminal activity on our paradise," White wrote.
The VIPD is challenged to meet the mandates of a federal consent decree, while carrying out their duties and providing service to the community, he said.
"We have dedicated sworn and non-sworn members of the VIPD who will not give in and are looking for our support, leadership and direction, as they are also integral members of our community as well," White said.
"I do not intend to let them down. The VIPD will forge partnerships, not only with Law Enforcement Agencies within the Virgin Islands, but with a number of Caribbean Law Enforcement Agencies as well," he said.
White asked the community to be conscious of the needs of local police.
"Pray for the wounded officers and their families. Be confident that the VIPD stands ready to provide the service that you need and deserve," White wrote.
The only way to save the islands is to give control back to the Feds.
WRONG!! It is time for the people of the VI to demand the services that are already in place to get off their government financed a$$es and do the job they are paid to do. We don’t need anymore Federal authorities stiring the pot. NOBODY can do the job as well as the local VI authorities if they would just do the job they are paid to do. Get over the fact that the “bad guy” is a relative or friend and do the dang job!!
Wrong!! on the “Wrong”
Get a clue ghost and get back to us………
If the VI’s elected officials and government employees, including police officers, were capable of addressing the myriad of issues facing the territory, they would have done so. Frankly, what we have is blatant theft, misuse and abuse, and incompetence. Every other US jurisdiction provides for peace officer status for federal agents. This is only controversial for the persons wanting to keep the status quo. Sorry Blue, but the local authorities have proven time and time again that they are not up to the task.
Get used to it. The local force has shown they cannot or WILL NOT take care of the big problems. I’ve seen no change in 35 years…..it has gotten worse. What miracle is going to make them suddenly do a good job?
The many MANY years of bloated upper level management in ALL levels of Government is what hinders any change from happening here! All the monies go to “talking the problem to death”…nothing left to put TO combat the problem wher eit needs to be tackled at the grassroot level whethe rit is in buying much needed school supples or fixing much needed repair school issue when they occur…from Youth issues, Education problems…the list is very long.
VIPD is no different.
People in general are so defensive about so called “ousiders”. We will have to mature and decide “what is more important…solving this internal age old probelm or keeping the status quo because we have “dug in our heels and say We Run tings”? Matruing dictates that we find our clarity and ask hard question like how do we turn these cronic age old governemnt issues aroud? That often means hiring someone from the outside because the “layers of dysfuction are so embedded”. (Granted there are examplkes of this not working however knee jerk reactions to outsdiers are not healthy!)
I APPLAUD the strong leadership being shown by the new VIPD Commissioner White.
We have internal VIPD issues that must continue to be addressed….
the deaths, guns and drug trade MUST be tackled here IF we are to address Public Safety honestly.
Our vIPD HAS made forward strides in the past 5 years…and this must continue under White’s strong leadership.
I agree wholeheartedly with White on our need to work with Federal Officials and giving them VI Peace officer status.