NSC approves increased police patrols, $20K reward for murders
In light of the recent gun killings in the BVI, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) will be heightening police patrols and a cash reward is being offered for information that leads to the conviction of the persons responsible.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool gave that update to the National Security Council (NSC) which held an emergency meeting yesterday to address these incidents of serious and violent crime.
“[The] Council approved the proposal to offer a reward of $20,000 in obtaining information that will lead to the successful prosecution of offenders for each of these two most recent murders,” the NSC said in a media release on Monday.
“The Council is encouraging the community to assist the police by calling in with tips at Crime Stoppers and the confidential and untraceable hotline 800-8477[TIPS], 800-847-8477 and 368-9339. Council recognised that persons may have witnessed these brazen crimes, one of which was committed during daylight. Therefore, any information that can be provided to the authorities may be helpful,” it added.
The NSC further reassured the public that the RVIPF is using every available tool to bring criminals to justice and to arrest the current trend of escalating crime involving firearms.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who sits on the Council was the one to request the emergency meeting after the territory’s second recorded murder since the start of a year. That second killing happened early Sunday morning while the other happened five days earlier on Tuesday, February 6. There have also been at least two non-fatal gunshot injuries reported this year.
“[The] Council approved the proposal to offer a reward of $20,000 in obtaining information that will lead to the successful prosecution of offenders for each of these two most recent murders,” the NSC said in a media release on Monday.
“The Council is encouraging the community to assist the police by calling in with tips at Crime Stoppers and the confidential and untraceable hotline 800-8477[TIPS], 800-847-8477 and 368-9339. Council recognised that persons may have witnessed these brazen crimes, one of which was committed during daylight. Therefore, any information that can be provided to the authorities may be helpful,” it added.
The NSC further reassured the public that the RVIPF is using every available tool to bring criminals to justice and to arrest the current trend of escalating crime involving firearms.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who sits on the Council was the one to request the emergency meeting after the territory’s second recorded murder since the start of a year. That second killing happened early Sunday morning while the other happened five days earlier on Tuesday, February 6. There have also been at least two non-fatal gunshot injuries reported this year.
