Financial Crisis: V.I.P.D. Drastically Cuts Overtime Hours

The Virgin Islands Police Department has drastically cut its overtime operation, a document outlining the directive — which was signed by V.I.P.D. Commissioner Delroy Richards and obtained by The Virgin Islands Consortium, has revealed.

The heavy reduction in overtime for the force comes as Governor Kenneth Mapp warned that because of the fiscal crisis facing the territory, austerity measures throughout government would be employed. Mr. Mapp had stressed during his press conference on Wednesday that the steps he outlined were only considerations. However, with the V.I.P.D.’s latest directive, it appears that some parts of the directive were already in motion.

Mr. Mapp said the administration was prepared to order the V.I.P.D. as well as the Bureau of Corrections and the Fire Service, to reduce all overtime outlay by 80 percent. “What that means is that there could be shifts where fire houses would not be manned for an 8-hour period, but the response would come from other fire houses that are opened and manned,” he said. “It means that overtime and special operations in the police department could be somewhat curtailed because the level of overtime disbursement must be reduced. In addition, the Bureau of Corrections may have to look at the transfer of additional persons out of the territory from the penal institution, so that the staff that exists would be able to adequately cover the shifts for those prisoners that remain on duty.”

The V.I.P.D. document explained that the reduction in overtime was initiated “due to the fiscal severity of the Virgin Islands Government,” and that “all departments have been mandated to take austerity measures to reduce individual budgets.”

Officers with an annually salary of $40,000 and under will see their biweekly overtime work cut to 16 hours; those making between $40,001 – $55,000 annually, will receive 14 hours of biweekly overtime; officers with an annual salary of $55,001 – $60,000, will receive 12 hours of overtime work on a biweekly basis; those working for between $60,001 – $65,000 annually, will receive 10 hours of biweekly overtime; and those making $65,001 and over, will receive 8 hours biweekly overtime work.

The drastic reduction in overtime for officers is the V.I.P.D.’s way of “circumventing” having to layoff or furlough employees, according to the document. In light of this, the document added that all “exceptional circumstances overtime must be approved by the deputy chief, chief or a higher ranking authority prior to working overtime.” It says captains, lieutenants and commanders will not be allowed to work overtime hours on holidays without prior approval from one of the above mentioned authorities.

The reduction in overtime stands to affect the V.I.P.D.’s crime-fighting efforts, and may disrupt a positive streak on St. Croix, which has experienced only one homicide in 2017. In a recent interview with The Consortium following a deadly shooting incident in St. Thomas, Police Commissioner Delroy Richards said the force was doing its best with its limited resources, stating that the V.I.P.D. lacked the manpower to “put officers on every corner.”

The governor had mention 32nd Legislature senators during his press conference, a majority of whom have so far supported his sin tax measure, stating  that the implementation of the law would help in reducing the severity of the cutbacks.

“That’s going to have an impact in terms of our overall plan because the measures that the Legislature is working on, if they’re enacted in early March, then the revenues that we would expect between March 1 and September 30 would increase… the bridge would be reduced, hence the ability not to implement some of these more difficult reforms,” the governor said.

The sin tax bill will face its final vote today, where a majority of Democrats are expected to approve the measure and forward it to Mr. Mapl for his signature.