Chief McFarland Hosts First Full-Scale Line Inspection Since 2008

ST. CROIX — The St. Croix branch of the Virgin Islands Police Department had not conducted a line inspection of its officers on a full-scale basis — where most of the force’s officers are gathered in one place — for eight years; the last major inspection being conducted when St. Croix Police Chief Winsbut McFarland served temporarily in 2008 as acting chief of police.

The exercise included all police officers, supervisors and zone commanders of all respective zones on St. Croix, which consists of zones A, B, and C. It also served as a way for Mr. McFarland and other V.I.P.D. leaders to assess the force’s efficiency and effectiveness.

The inspections provided the chief, command staff and supervisors with the means of regularly assessing agency efficiency and effectiveness, according to V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte.

The evaluation provided information necessary to plan and implement organizational changes in the daily operations of the force, according to Police. Areas inspected included officers’ uniforms for proper fit, cleanliness and personal appearance to ensure conformance with department directives.

Issued communications devices, equipment gear and assigned vehicles were also examined on Monday.

“The exercise is useful for many reasons. First, it helps me as the new chief to meet all the officers and tell them some expectations. Despite the fact that I’ve been meeting with them in the zones, I think that it is important that we all come together,” the chief said. He added that the exercise is also commonly used to present awards and commend officers for their work.

At yesterday’s event the chief pinned multiple detectives who were serving in their capacities but without their badges. “We had people in the Investigation Bureau who had been there for quite a while, and it works as a motivator to them. They have seen officers come in less than a year and placed in offices — a lot of them under the commissioner’s office and my office — so it’s important for me to lift the morale of my officers under police operations, and to make sure they know that, just like anybody else, I do appreciate them.”

Most of the police force was present at the line inspection. During that time, the island was patrolled by 15 officers who are part of what Mr. McFarland said was his Special Operations Bureau.

Below, videos of yesterday’s event.