Police brutality?

This police officer should be suspended with pay, pending an investigation. If the witnesses stories hold up then this guy should be fired and most likely the police dept will be sued and incur yet another black eye. Standards and accountability need to be put in place with someone who has the authority to back them up. We have some real mickey mouse stuff that goes on with our police dept. If it wasnt so pathetic it would almost be comical. I guess the phrase "Keystone Cops" was invented for places like this.

Problem is, everyone is related to someone and the cops are involved in MORE than some will want to admit, or believe.

I'm just suprised the off duty police officer had the mobility to shove a women on the sidewalk after spending two hours in that icebox. I like how the responding officer huddled with the off duty guy before making a decesion to arrest a crying women on the sidewalk. Pretty pathetic!! You know the conversation went something like this. "I screwed up big time on this one but I need you to back me up!!" "No Problem"
When off duty police officers are allowed to bully women in broad daylight, you can only imagine what they are doing on duty. If the victims story holds up, then this guy should be terminated as soon as possible. If he continues to serve and protect the good people of the Virgin Islands it will speak volumes as to the respect the Department has for the public.

How very very sad. I believe this illustrates the powertrip that I have heard other police officer have been reported to "deomnstrate". I hope that Ms George is/has recovered and that her arrest has been reversed. I hope that she sues.

NOTE: Ms. George's arrest was not in the Police Blotter .... doubt even Officer Rogers could make that stick.
Pamela.

That article made me sick! It's one thing to use his power for evil but to push an innocent woman to the curb is just disgusting! Have people tried speaking out about these issues? I know its not as easy as it sounds..from my experiance living on Maui (granted not nearly as bad) everyone knows everyone else and that makes it hard speaking out against a "higher authority" Who would you take these issues to? I'm not on island yet so i have no idea who the politicians are, if any one has time could you please drop me a note?

My heart goes out to Ms. George, no one should have to deal with that..especially from people who are suppose to "serve and protect"

Thanks for letting me vent
Jen

Here's a follow report.
http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=6935155

Yeah, this was a disgusting example of a bad cop throwing his weight around! The saddest part of the whole thing was a statement by one of the witnesses (in the first Daily News report). He basically said that it was too bad the police now have a list of witnesses and their phone numbers because now the police can harass the witnesses and prevent them from coming forward. Which from what I hear, happens a lot down here. Hopefully justice will be served in this case!

And today's follow-up: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=6968375

Here's the latest: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=7115851

And didn't one of the VI's finest just get some time for strong arming some local denizen. I think it was last week or two ago.

Unfortunately, you folks have to live with this type of protection. Me I just observe and watch on my many visits.

Now you know why murders never get solved. LOL

yes right after my boyfriend got into a car accident and of duty emergency rescue guy came off and started taking pics without announcing who he was. Big black guy 250+ and my boyfriend white 150. My boyfriend asked he who he was and why was he taking pics and he did not reply. My boyfriend kept geting in front of the pic. and the rescue guy slapt my boyfriends hat off of him and hitting him in the face by doing so. My boyfriend pushed him back so he could pick up the hat. Then another off duty officer came through my boyfriend on the ground and told him he was arrested him for assault and battery of an officer. Meanwhile he did not see a damb thing. Then two uniformed officers came they spoke and then read my boyfriend his rights.

Let's not forget he was just in a bad car accident and no one was ev en concerned about filing a police report about that until 2hrs later at the hospital.

Ann. Interesting you made sure to state the races of the people involved. To my jaded eyes you were both drunk/"intoxicated".

That is the first time I have ever heard of cops "shaking down" anyone like that. Two cars together are looking for someone in specific. Tourist almost always get free DUI passes and many other perks that the residents do not. Don't think for a moment that even the morons don't know not to bite that hand.

Please also understand that the starting salary for cops is under 30k. Let that sink in for a moment, and if you say that is good money you are obviously not here to make a life.

I lost a huge and much more articulate post, so sorry for the brief tone. I feel the cops need to be defended here.

For 30k per year candidates require:

A) physical ability to perform the job

B) enough intelligence and speed to handle situations,

c) with enough tact and finesse around people who don't understand thier culture, history, and are usually racist.

So, now that you all hate me and I know STT resident will have a field day TRYING to trash talk me I will proceed.

I feel bad for the movie lady. No excuse if it did go the way the witnesses said. In a place this small you never know if there was a back story to the incident. FYI from the door of the movie theater to the curb is about 20'..... that is a LONG way to "throw" someone. Once again the incident, if as described, is deplorable.

Unsolved murders... I guarantee you that Aruba/ Halloway, would have been solved within a week here.

The two guys from the wedding party incident was solved fast. The gang fighting, drug deals gone bad and grudge killings of the residents always take a back seat to any kind of incidents involving "insert race here" stateside people.

Anyone want to talk about the cops and unsolved murders in Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, DC, NY, FL......

In closing my recurring theme on this board is be carefull what you wish for.

Imagine if we had a huge, well paid police force like where you live "policing" your every move. Ying and Yang.

Let the ALL Islands bashing begin.

All Islands: I am not going to bash you. I will say this: you are a newcomer to this board. You have jumped in with both feet, not stopping to determine who the other members are. Your writing style is rather terse and at times difficult to decode. We would all love to hear your comments. You might consider waiting a few minutes before hitting the "post" button as you come across (to me) as impulsive. This is a civil board. Okay??

I AM NOT A TOURIST NOR WERE WE INTOXICATED

IT DOES SOUND LIKE A SET UP ALMOST DOESN'T

I second that, East Ender. All Islands seems to have some bones to pick and appears for some reason to have picked on me as someone who knows infinitely less than he (or she?) In another post he/she seems to have mistaken me for someone else in a most bizarre fashion. Oh well!

And, ann m (don't shout!) but yes, your experience unfortunately is one that happens from time to time and I'm truly sorry for anyone who has such experiences. I've had my share too - enough to probably write a book. And I hear about different degrees of DWC (Driving While Caucasian) incidents every week.

Police "ombudsman" Ray Martinez honestly hit the nail right on the head about the inadequacies in the VIPD last week in an address to Rotary, which was covered at some length in the local newspapers and on the St. Thomas Source online newspaper.

I've always tried to be fair when people say that all the police are bad and have played Devil's Advocate for years during such conversations, pointing out their lack of supplies and equipment, etc.

I was recently subjected to a physical assault by a St. Thomian woman in the middle of a crowded supermarket during the day, an unprovoked attack which was caught on the store's video surveillance cameras and witnessed by many. To this day I have no idea why the police who were called to the scene declined to arrest her as she's apparently well known to the VIPD. They gave me a big runaround. I wrote to the Police Commissioner and finally received a very unsatisfactory response from him. Two weeks later she was arrested for third degree assault for attacking a woman with a pair of scissors and is still in jail. I've subsequently been in close contact with the detective in charge of the second assault case and truly hope that she'll either remain in jail for a long spell or else will be forced to get some help with her problem (preferably both!)

But enough of that. I guess my point is that although one's natural feeling of helplessness takes over in such cases, there ARE avenues of recourse. One of the first things I learned a very long time ago was to GO TO COURT and not just accept a ticket if you feel that you've been absolutely wronged. It does indeed take time out of one's work schedule to go to court but everyone is entitled to be heard and I can certainly personally attest to the fact that justice can prevail if one exercises one's right. Cheers.

I am not bashing there are good and bad at every job. I don't judge all on one or two bad guys.