An act creating a temporary law enforcement integration initiative to increase police manpower, enhance public safety operations, and reduce violent crime
Sponsored By: Kenneth L. Gittens
Enacted
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Reassigned Officers Keep Pay and Benefits
Certified officers from independent or autonomous Virgin Islands government agencies can temporarily serve under the Police Commissioner’s command. A written agreement between the Commissioner and the employing agency is required. Corrections personnel and Supreme and Superior Court marshals are excluded; the Governor can also exempt officers through written findings protecting essential government operations. Assigned officers keep their salary, rank, benefits, retirement status, and employment rights. They must wear their existing uniform or one approved by the Commissioner.
More Virgin Islands Police on Patrol
The law immediately starts a temporary police initiative in St. Croix and St. Thomas–St. John to strengthen public safety. Within 15 days after enactment, the Police Commissioner must review sworn police assignments and move all available officers to field duties. Exceptions cover Internal Affairs, federally required duties, and staff the Commissioner finds necessary to keep critical operations running. District chiefs supervise deployment and must submit plans within 15 days after enactment; the Commissioner must approve, change, or reject them. Plans must cover patrols in high-crime areas, crime suppression, traffic enforcement, community policing, robbery and carjacking reduction, and firearm interdiction. They must also address eastern and western zone staffing, police visibility, and rapid response. Monthly reports to the Governor and Legislature must track deployments, arrests, traffic citations—including health, fire, and licensing citations—firearm recoveries, robberies, carjackings, homicides, overtime spending, crime trends, and recommendations. A full assessment is due within 90 days after implementation, covering crime reduction, operations, staffing, community impact, and recommendations. The initial term is 90 days; after the assessment, the Governor can end it or extend it by up to 90 days. Unless another law authorizes continuation, it ends no later than 180 days after enactment, and reassigned officers must promptly return to their agencies and regular duties. The law provides no new appropriation and makes no direct changes to household taxes, benefits, or fees.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Kenneth L. Gittens
legislature
Cosponsors
Alma Francis Heyliger
legislature
Angel L. Bolques, Jr.
legislature
Avery L. Lewis
legislature
Clifford A. Joseph, Sr.
legislature
Dwayne M. DeGraff
legislature
Franklin D. Johnson
legislature
Hubert L. Frederick
legislature
Kurt A. Vialet
legislature
Marvin A. Blyden
legislature
Milton E. Potter
legislature
Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
legislature
Ray Fonseca
legislature
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Enacted
8/7/2026legislatureTo Governor
8/5/2026legislatureFloor
8/4/2026legislatureFloor
8/4/2026legislatureFloor
8/4/2026legislatureIntroduced
7/21/2026legislature
Bill Text
Enacted Act
8/7/2026
Amendment
8/4/2026
Bill Text
7/21/2026
Related Bills
Bill No. 36-0393, An act amending Act No. 9035 to reprogram funds within the 2026 fiscal year budget for Virgin Islands Department of Health to provide a $2,500,000 appropriation
Bill No. 36-0339, An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement,
Lease 36-0293, An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and The St. Thomas Cricket Association Inc. for Parcel No-2 of Tract
Bill No. 36-0192, An act amending title 34 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15 to enact the Senior Financial Protection and Promissory Note Abuse Prevention Act of 2025
Bill No. 36-0290, An act granting a zoning use variance for Plot No. 104 Estate Concordia, Westend Quarter, St. Croix from the R-2 (Residential Low Density–One and Two Family)
Bill No. 36-0392, An act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 111 creating the Virgin Islands Contractor Bonds Cost Revolving Loan Fund