Home News Local news On Island Profile: Marty Alperen

On Island Profile: Marty Alperen

0

Sept. 5, 2005 – By day, St. John resident Marty Alperen prosecutes criminals for the Attorney General's office. But when he steps off the St. John ferry, he puts on his St. John Rescue hat to help the community in times of need.
"St. John is a place where you can get things done," he said.
He said the island has lots of places, like St. John Rescue, where someone with his energy and enthusiasm can make a difference. Alperen serves as the organization's president.
In November 2002, he put together the Caribbean Extrication Training that brought rescue people from across the Caribbean to St. John to learn how to get people out of wrecked cars.
He also helped the organization finally get its Rescue I vehicle by convincing the local government to turn over money appropriated for the vehicle.
However, he's quick to point out that St. John Rescue wouldn't be a success without the hard work of all its dedicated members.
His work with St. John Rescue helped him gain membership into the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, a program that will give him a master's degree in homeland security. It involves in-person and distance learning.
"My goal is to be an advisor for homeland security," he said.
Alperen, 48, first experienced St. John when he came to visit his sister, Barbara Alperen. She and her life partner, Terry McKoy, own Sloop Jones painted clothing company on the island's East End.
He said he first spent one week, then two, and finally three weeks a year "fixing things for Barbara" before making the move in September 1998, right after Hurricane Georges hit.
"The pace of life was nice, and my sister was here," he said.
He initially thought he'd work as a carpenter, but decided to take the bar exam. Alperen said that while he was taking the exam, he was asked to join the Justice Department staff.
"I came here to get away from the rat race, but I wasn't very successful," he said, laughing.
However, he said he loves being a prosecutor because it gives him the opportunity to do justice. "Theoretically, you're on the right side of the law," he said.
He said that sending Wade Gumbs to jail for life after he murdered Rudolph Fleming was one of his biggest successes. He called it the most heinous case he's ever prosecuted. He said people came up to him afterward on the street to give him a hug.
Alperen also said he is proud of the publication of "Virgin Islands Criminal, Vehicle and Traffic Laws Annotated," a legal tome that pulled together these laws in one book. It was first published by LexisNexis in 1999 but a second edition came out two months ago.
"I didn't make any money on it. I did it for nothing," he said.
Alperen, born in Lewiston, Maine, studied government at Connecticut College in New London, Conn. After graduation, he went on to Suffolk University Law School in Boston.
A 20-month stint as a police officer in Provincetown, Mass., followed. After that, he worked in the Brooklyn, New York, District Attorney's office and as an insurance company lawyer.
Back in Boston, he had his own practice for 11 years.
Alperen, who is single, always seems to be on the go. However, he said he does make it a point to get to the beach.
"I love snorkeling," he said.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here