Federal law enforcement receive peace officer status

V.I. Attorney General Gordon Rhea announced Tuesday that 37 federal law enforcement officers have been commissioned as V.I. peace officers, after receiving training on V.I. history and cultural sensitivities from University of the Virgin Islands Professor Olasee Davis.

The Legislature enacted a law in 2012 that granted the V.I. Police Commissioner the authority to grant peace officer status to federal officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; U.S. Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; and U.S. Coast Guard.

The newly commissioned peace officers consist of two from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; five from the Drug Enforcement Administration; 12 from Homeland Security Investigation;10 from Customs and Border Protection, and eight from the U.S. Marshals Service, according to Tuesday’s press release. "This commissioning marks an important step in strengthening the collaboration between federal and local law enforcement. It ensures that all officers are equipped to enforce the law while honoring the unique cultural sensitivities of the Virgin Islands. These officers will be instrumental in safeguarding the safety and security of our community,” Rhea said in the statement.