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Guns for police is a question for CoP- Augustus J. U. Jaspert

His Excellency Mr Augustus J. U. Jaspert stated that the matter of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) having gun is something for the Commissioner to answer. Photo: VINO
The new Governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert said he has been well briefed on crimes in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
The new Governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert said he has been well briefed on crimes in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - During a press conference with media houses on Tuesday August 29, 2017, His Excellency Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert was questioned about arming the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the matter of tackling crime in the Virgin Islands.

The Governor said, “Should the police have guns or not is a question that the Commissioner needs to answer to you and those that are operationally dealing with…It’s not for me to determine what those operational needs are and if an officer on the street there should carry a gun or not it’s not something I’m in a position to determine,” noting that he has not discussed that matter with the Commissioner.

His Excellency, who was sworn-in on Tuesday August 22, 2017, informed journalists that he visited the Police Headquarters and Road Town Police Station to familiarise himself with the members of Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). He also mentioned that he was briefed on various high profile cases.

“I got briefed up on various high profile cases, that you would imagine being particularly murders that have happened in these islands sadly over a recent period, and the efforts that the police are doing to take those forward. It’s not appropriate to talk about any of those cases in detail,” explained Governor Jaspert.

'Well briefed up on crimes'

The new governor stated that he was briefed during a meeting on Tuesday August 29, 2017 about the issues that the RVIPF are currently facing as well as plans for implementing new initiatives.

He said, “The police themselves are taking forward their own programmes to improve things and the various developments that they’ve had going forward and their models of ways to make sure that crime doesn’t recover, and this island or territory is known as being very safe from everything I’ve heard and everyone I’ve met is focused on having it stay that way which is something I’m focused on as well.”

He continued, “I was getting briefed up in London on the crimes that have been happening recently,” adding that he also spoke about the efforts that the RVIPF are taking in order to ensure that the territory is safe and not affected by violent crimes. “I got well briefed up on that,” he said.

10 Responses to “Guns for police is a question for CoP- Augustus J. U. Jaspert”

  • one eye (02/09/2017, 11:24) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    This man start to duck the issues
  • hell no!!! (02/09/2017, 11:27) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    give those island man guns to kill off the locals??
    • wize up (02/09/2017, 14:48) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
      @ hell no: and them guys will shoot quick; fast and in a hurry and the commissioner of police will back them 100%: yep I said it: now you can call me what you desire(big deal).....
  • cay (02/09/2017, 13:18) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Passing the bucks
  • Khodra (02/09/2017, 15:18) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Arm some immigration and customs. The law allows for it.
    • sense (02/09/2017, 20:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      They are the first to come in contact with criminals on the sea but how can they stop a criminal on a boat with a gun with a flash light on the bow of the customs boat
  • guns (02/09/2017, 17:29) Like (19) Dislike (8) Reply
    Police don't need Guns...They need to build and improve relationship...Relationship is more important to crime fighting than Guns...They already have a back up unit that carries Guns... That the way to go
    • wizeup (03/09/2017, 09:33) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      When the criminals start firing bullets at ayo, lets see if *relationship* is going to arm the police then...smh
  • knowledge (09/09/2017, 17:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    As of right now I will say arming the current police officers of the BVI is a horrible idea if you want to do this you have to start fresh make the selection process for this job more rigorous and get a better background check on the people you decide to hire because most of the current male officers prey on little girls 15 years and up won't be surprise if they would go even lower. The current officers have no standards and as professional law enforcement officers you should be the standard of your community you can't enforce laws you don't follow yourself it will never work. As officers you should be the standard bearers and most of the guys on BVIPF are not that. I say start new fire then all start a rigorous academy and a through screening process. By doing that that will already deter some of the bad eggs from even applying and wasting your time. I am not against guns and I think that the police should be able to carry a side arm in duty for protection and even law abiding citizens should have the right to bear arms to protect themselves from those who have guns even if its Ilegal. Just make sure you do a through background check on the person. I say arm the police but not these guys that would drive by the boys on the block smoking weed and be like hey what's up or know where they are growing it and turn a blind eye, not the guys that try to talk to little girls to get into there pants. I say fire most if not all and start a new police force under strict protocol and standards where wearing the uniform isn't just a paycheck but it's a calling to protect those that can't protect themselves like a sheepdog protecting a flock from the wolves(criminals). Speaking from knowledge growing up in the bvi and observing these things happen now a law enforcement officer in the United States and I would say it is my calling. And I hope one day the bvi can turn itself around and put an end to the land that is basically lawless if you ask me. Also do not arm officers that have not been properly trained and are proficient in firearms and firearm safety and that's probably all of them. Just my 2 cents


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