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1 36th LEGISLATURE OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 2 SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS JR. 3 COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, APPROPRIATION & FINANCE 4 VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT 5 FY2026 BUDGET TESTIMONY 6 AUGUST 13, 2025 7 8 9 10 Honorable Novelle E. Francis Jr., Chair of the Committee 11 on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance; Committee Members; members of 12 the 36th Legislature; esteemed listeners and viewers; citizens of the United 13 States Virgin Islands, good morning. 14 I am Mario M. Brooks, the Commissioner of the United States 15 Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). It is an honor to be here today to 16 participate in this vital process. I am particularly pleased to be accompanied 17 by the VIPD's executive team, a group of exceptional professionals who are 18 prepared to provide thorough and transparent information as we discuss the 19 department's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. 20 To begin, I would like to highlight several key accomplishments achieved 21 during FY2025. The Virgin Islands Police Department successfully reduced 22 overall crime by 4 percent, recovered 105 illegal firearms not inclusive of 23 the successful gun buy-back program, and effected 564 arrests while 24 maintaining a continued reduction in overtime expenditures. 25 In FY2024, the department expended $24,126,044 in overtime. In 26 FY2025 to date (July 24th, 2025), the department expended $13,157,633 in 27 overtime. At the current rate, we anticipate expending$15,549,930 at the end 28 of FY2025 which represents a 36% reduction or $8,576,114 from FY2024 29 spending levels. 30 Budget Overview and Impact 31 VIPD’s Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Budget aligns with the Office of Management 32 and Budget’s recommended budget of $73,339,167: 33 Personnel $40,345,456 Fringe $15,445,247 Supplies $ 4,787,675 Other Services $10,519,603 Utilities $ 1,801,186 Capital Outlay $ 440,000 FY 2026 Utilities Cap Other Services 3% 14% Supplies 7% ital Outlay 1% Personnel Fringe 76% 34 Specific Allocations are included for: Police Athletic League STT/STJ $65,000 Police Athletic League STX $65,000 Cadet STT/STJ Program $65,000 Cadet STX Program $65,000 Consent Decree 2,005,067 Crime Stoppers $100,000 Contribution Peace Officers Training Fund 250,000 35 Additionally, the department is set to receive an appropriation of 36 $3,000,000 from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to support the 37 VIPD’s tourism related initiatives. The budget also includes non-appropriated 38 funds of $584,314 for the Peace Officers Standards and Training Fund 39 and an additional $11,714,637 anticipated from Federal funds. 40 Federal Grants 41 In FY2025, we received $919,233 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 42 funding for a total of $19,687,701 for 7 projects. We have 2 remaining open 43 projects totaling $2,715,312: 44 The Real Time Crime Center Personnel Project for $616,378 and the 45 VIPD Anti-Crime Initiatives for $2,098,934 of which 46 $566,890 is encumbered for the In-car Solution contract, $919,233 for 47 the purchase of additional cameras and License Plate Readers and the 48 the remaining $612,812 for the establishment of the Drone program. 49 We plan to utilize $16,120,252 in federal grants to supplement the 50 General Fund. In FY2025 we received $3,967,740 from the United States 51 Department of Justice – Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) 52 Program to fund the salaries of 20 new police officers and $338,786 from the 53 Law Enforcement Planning Commission to fund the purchase of tactical gear 54 and training for Officers. 55 The VIPD has also accumulated $224,345 in Operation Stone Garden 56 (OPSG) grant funding from the United States Department of Homeland 57 Security, which supports our work with local and federal agencies to curtail 58 illegal activities to include human and drug trafficking on our borders. To 59 date, the Department of Homeland Security funding has allowed for 60 $15,158 in overtime reimbursements. 61 Due to natural disasters and issues along the Southwestern 62 U.S. border, federal funding was redirected, resulting in the department 63 receiving only $85,000 in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and $54,345 in fiscal 64 year 2024. 65 The department also has multi-year funding in the amounts of: 66 $202,500 in Homeland Security grant funds for tactical equipment 67 and S.W.A.T training. 68 $50,000 in Homeland Security grant funds to assist with the upcoming 69 election process. 70 $1.5M from the United States Department of the Interior-Office of 71 Insular Affairs for the expansion of surveillance cameras. 72 $2,000,000 for the Real Time Crime Center project. 73 $3,984,000 for the buildout of 3 law enforcement vessels. 74 $105,819 from the Law Enforcement Planning Commission in prior year 75 funding to support violence against women. 76 Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety 77 In FY2025, the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS) 78 received $2,237,752 from the National Highway Traffic Safety 79 Administration (NHTSA) to fund 13 NHTSA projects. The Federal Motor 80 Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) awarded $1,509,310 which will 81 fund 3 federal grants through September 30th 2027. At the end of FY2025, 82 any unused NHTSA fund balances will also roll forward to FY2026. The 83 VIOHS has one FMCSA grant which will expire on September 30th 2025, 84 and the anticipated de-obligated amount will be $300,000 which includes 85 funding for a key vacant position. 86 FEMA/Hazard Mitigation 87 The VIPD received $12,872,869 in FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant 88 Program (HMGP) funding for various disaster relief projects. These 89 projects include generator installations and the retrofitting of facilities to 90 meet hazard mitigation standards. The Department obligated $25,022,204 91 in FEMA Public Assistance Grants. In FY2025, the department received 92 $441,473 in FEMA Public Assistance reimbursements for a total 93 reimbursement of $16,559,847 for Hurricanes Irma, Maria and Covid-19. 94 We recently obligated 7 new projects in the amount of $100,587 for Tropical 95 Storm Ernesto. To date, 5 projects totaling $387,293 for safety equipment 96 and building contents are in the process of de-obligation. 97 Consent Decree 98 The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) continues to 99 collaborate with the Independent Monitoring Team (IMT) on the path 100 towards substantial compliance with the remaining provisions of the 101 Consent Decree. The paragraph concerning Citizen Complaints remains in 102 compliance and is expected to be removed from the Consent Decree by 103 March 2026, marking the conclusion of its monitoring period. 104 As we move forward, the VIPD, IMT, and the U.S. Department of Justice 105 remain aligned in our efforts. As we stay on course, we anticipate 106 achieving full compliance with the remaining paragraphs by the end of 2025. 107 At that point, we will enter a two-year monitoring period for the outstanding 108 provisions. In preparation, the department is working to ensure 109 that the appropriate policies and procedures are firmly in place to support 110 long-term sustainability beyond the Consent Decree. Substantial compliance 111 at the completion of the two-year monitoring period will allow the VI 112 Government to realize a cost saving of approximately $700,000 annually. 113 Human Resources 114 In FY2025, we hired 15 new employees to strengthen both our 115 sworn and civilian workforce. In addition to these hires, 17 Police Officer 116 recruits successfully graduated from the Police Academy and have entered 117 active duty, further reinforcing our commitment to public safety and 118 personnel development. Despite these important gains, we experienced an 119 annual turnover rate of approximately 8.9%, which highlights the need for 120 sustained recruitment and employee retention strategies. 121 Recruitment Strategies 122 To address present and future staffing challenges, the department has 123 taken a multi-pronged approach to recruitment and employee engagement. 124 First, we are expanding the Police Cadet Program within local high schools. 125 This program serves not only as a career-readiness initiative but also as a 126 strategic recruitment tool. Since 2024, 18 cadets have graduated from the 127 program with 3 being hired and 2 expected to join shortly. Additionally, we 128 are pleased to report that 3 Police Auxiliaries have successfully converted to 129 full-time Police Officers after completing their one-year probationary 130 requirement. 131 Internship Program Revitalization 132 In alignment with our youth engagement and workforce development goals 133 the department has created the Office of Youth Services. This office is 134 responsible for PAL, Weed & Seed, Cadet, and Youth Internship Programs. 135 The Youth Internship Program is being redesigned to specifically target 136 high school and college students for placement in various positions 137 within the department. The objective is to provide real-world 138 experiences, foster interest in public service careers, and establish a new 139 feeder system for future employment within the department. 140 The Police Activity League (PAL) is furthering its youth engagement 141 mission through collaboration with the Jerry Browne Baseball League on St. 142 Croix. We recently hosted a department-sponsored tournament featuring 143 local youth and visiting teams from Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. This event 144 did not only showcase athletic talent, but it also promoted regional 145 camaraderie and positive interactions between law enforcement and the 146 community. 147 Employee Recognition and Outreach 148 To further support retention and morale, the department has established 149 an Employee Recognition Committee. This committee includes union 150 representatives from both districts, and is tasked with identifying, 151 recommending, and promoting initiatives to recognize outstanding service 152 and improve overall employee engagement. 153 We have increased our recruitment efforts to include the launch of our 154 newly redesigned website, targeted advertising campaigns and our 155 community outreach efforts. 156 Reducing Personnel Costs through Overtime Control 157 The department is actively engaged in reducing personnel costs by 158 implementing stricter oversight and improved procedures related to 159 overtime management. This includes the enforcement of 160 policies governing overtime eligibility, usage, and documentation. 161 As a result, the department achieved a 36% reduction in 162 overtime expenditures. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank my staff 163 particularly the Chiefs and Deputies for their leadership and continued 164 efforts in managing the reduction of overtime within their respective areas 165 of responsibility. Their commitment to accountability, strategic 166 scheduling, and resource management has made a noticeable impact on 167 improving the department’s operational efficiency. We will continue to 168 refine these practices, track outcomes, and implement improvements 169 as needed to maintain fiscal discipline without compromising public 170 safety or operational readiness. 171 Training Bureau 172 Funding for the Training Bureau continues to ensure that all peace 173 officers in the territory maintain certification requirements according to 174 Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in providing training - virtual 175 platform and in person learning. During FY2025, approximately 3000 hours 176 of instruction were delivered in Recruit Training, Peace Officer 177 Certifications, and Officer Development. Instructions were inclusive of 178 yearly firearms certifications training, taser, baton, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) 179 Certification, Ethics, Use of Force (UOF), and Domestic Violence (DV). 180 There was also training for Auxiliary Officers who transitioned from part 181 time to full-time officers and Lateral Transfer Training for Officers that came 182 from other agencies. In addition, training was also delivered in Use of Force 183 Investigations and Active Shooter Response. The Training Bureau continues 184 to use Power DMS (the training database) to provide supplemental training 185 for all sworn personnel. A testing component is also included at the 186 conclusion of each block of instruction. 187 Other critical training conducted included Scenario Base Trainings, 188 Mental Health First Aid Certifications, Court Room Testimony and 189 Leadership Training (delivered by FLETC). The Training Bureau have also 190 developed a program to train and certify Civilian Personnel in Mental Health 191 First Aid. Training and certification on the use of the newly acquired noise 192 meters are currently in progress. In FY2025, VIPD graduated 23 Peace 193 Officers and 9 Auxiliary Officers and 8 full-time sworn personnel. 194 Information Technology Bureau 195 Officers have begun utilizing the e-citation system to issue citations, which 196 are electronically transmitted to the court system. Upon full implementation, 197 the e-citation will be extended to all law enforcement agencies. Phase II of 198 the e-citation will involve the deployment of additional hardware and 199 the integration of the system with other platforms. 200 Phase II of the camera installation project is in its final stages, 201 with the remaining work focused on installing the Pan-Tilt- Zoom (PTZ) 202 and License Plate Readers (LPR) cameras. Through our Real- 203 Time Crime Centers, the system continues to be monitored, actively 204 recording and providing real-time information to law enforcement personnel. 205 The In-Car Mobile Routing Solution contract for first responder vehicles 206 throughout the territory has been signed. This solution will provide officers 207 with the capability to transmit and receive real-time data within their 208 vehicles. It will also enable the 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Centers 209 through our Spillman software to view the real time location of the vehicles 210 and dispatch accordingly. In the meantime, the Chiefs are able to monitor 211 the precise locations of the active units in the field by way of our current GPS 212 solution. Preparations are currently on the way for the deployment of 40 213 units, each will be equipped with the necessary hardware, internet access and 214 secure connectivity to network resources from the vehicles. 215 The vendor for Real Time Crime Center has started building the required 216 equipment and furniture for each of those locations. The completed 217 products will then be shipped to the designated locations in both districts. 218 These centers will be fully outfitted with the necessary furnishings and 219 technological infrastructure to support personnel by delivering real-time 220 information to officers in the field. 221 This platform will facilitate the integration of various types of cameras and 222 applications into a unified map- based interface. The traffic light enforcement 223 project is pending completion, contingent upon identification of a funding 224 source. Ultimately, this tool will play a critical role in the Real Time Crime 225 Center project. 226 Facilities Management 227 Virgin Islands Police Department continues to modernize and 228 harden its facility portfolio through an aggressive capital improvement 229 program supported by several FEMA Public Assistance awards. These 230 include the Alexander Farrelly Justice Center Retrofit, Leander Jurgen 231 Command Retrofit on St. John, the St. Thomas Impound Lot, the VIPD Sub- 232 Base Training Building, Anna’s Retreat Repairs Project on St. Thomas, and 233 the Patrick E. Sweeney Headquarters Retrofit on St. Croix. These 234 efforts, coordinated with VITEMA and the Public Finance Authority (PFA), 235 reflect all major projects standing at 30% or greater in the design phase 236 beyond initial scoping. As these capital projects progress, VIPD has secured 237 multiple temporary leases across both districts. For FY2026, the St. 238 Thomas/St. John District is budgeted at $787,931 in annual lease 239 obligation, whereas the St. Croix District is budgeted at $1,740,111, 240 bringing the total territory-wide rent lease obligation to $2,528,042. 241 In the St. Croix District, the Department has executed a new lease for a 242 brand-new police headquarters currently under construction, which will 243 finally allow VIPD to vacate the deteriorating Mars Hill location. This facility 244 is being built to the department’s specifications and includes a 245 comprehensive facilities maintenance plan, developed in partnership with 246 the landlord, that addresses HVAC servicing, generator stability, electrical 247 load management, and plumbing system mapping to preserve building 248 integrity until the Patrick E. Sweeney Headquarters is complete. VIPD is 249 currently developing similar maintenance plans for all leased locations to 250 standardize upkeep and reduce emergency repairs. 251 While the Department presently occupies 20 leased sites 252 across the Territory, the long-term strategy remains the consolidation 253 of core operations into fewer, government-owned, modern facilities. 254 This approach is expected to significantly reduce rent and maintenance 255 costs, enhance efficiency, and improve employee morale. 256 Conclusion 257 In closing, we thank you for the opportunity to present our FY2026 258 budget request, providing a transparent overview of our achievements, 259 challenges, and future initiatives. I am taking this opportunity to thank the 260 people of the Virgin Islands. Your collaboration is crucial in our efforts to 261 combat crime. I would like to recognize Johnny Cornelius and Sharon 262 Bachan as our Employees of the Year. To my executive team, thank you for 263 answering the call to service and dedication to leading this department. 264 I cannot do it without you. To the entire VIPD family, sworn and civilian 265 personnel alike we say thank you, thank you, thank you, for what you 266 do every day for the people of this territory. This concludes my testimony, 267 my team and I are ready to respond to your questions.