Johnson Says He Will File Court Action Against Martinez to Squeeze Information From Commissioner if Compliance Falters

In a December interview, Senator Franklin Johnson went on the record with Consortium journalists about his gripes with the perceived lack of responsiveness of VIPD top leadership to community concerns.

The sit-down came after lawmakers expressed their extreme frustration at the absence of any V.I. Police Department representative during a November meeting of the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety convened specifically to address public safety concerns on St. John.

Mr. Johnson’s comments during that session drew ire from VIPD Commissioner Ray Martinez, who insulted the lawmaker’s intelligence during a fiery interview with this publication. The commissioner claimed that the senator’s November comment – “it looks like the cowards are the cops” – in reference to the commissioner’s non-appearance at that committee hearing had done damage to the morale of the force.