Frederiksted Community Airs Concerns During Town Hall on Crime

At a town hall in Frederiksted Tuesday, V.I. Police Commissioner Mario Brooks, Attorney General Gordon Rhea, and Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner H. Nathalie Hodge called on residents to take an active role in crime prevention, addressing public concerns about law enforcement accountability, noise violations, and opportunities for youth.

The meeting, hosted by WTJX at the Rotary Club West building, comes amid ongoing challenges in prosecuting crimes and a push for greater community cooperation.

At various points, both Brooks and Rhea stressed the need for residents to participate in crime prevention efforts or, if necessary, come forward with information about criminal acts. Rhea has served as the territory’s attorney general for what he described as an “extremely interesting” 10 months, and Brooks officially assumed the role of VIPD commissioner in November, nearly five months after former VIPD Commissioner Ray Martinez stepped down amid a federal investigation into misuse of funds.

Their call to action was in line with past efforts by law enforcement to engage the community in policing. After a series of homicides in October, Brooks asked Virgin Islanders — and the perpetrators themselves — to come forward and let themselves be held to account.