HOMICIDES HIT 39: Gov. Bryan links gov't cameras to police

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has directed executive branch agencies across the US Virgin Islands to connect their exterior security cameras to the Virgin Islands Police Department, part of a broader effort to combat rising violent crime.

The Territory-wide Government Surveillance-Camera Integration Program was unveiled Monday during a Government House press briefing with Police Commissioner Mario Brooks. Under the executive order, government agencies must catalogue their exterior-facing cameras and collaborate with VIPD and the Bureau of Information Technology to link systems that meet integration requirements.

The initiative aims to give police secure, real-time access to government-owned surveillance systems during criminal investigations and public-safety emergencies. Many government facilities, including public buildings, housing communities, transportation hubs, parking areas and roadways, already operate cameras, but these systems currently function independently.

The territory is facing a sustained surge in violent and property crime. By early Monday, homicides had reached 39 for 2026, with 17 deaths on St. Thomas and 22 on St. Croix. The latest victim was a 21-year-old woman who died from gunshot wounds early Monday after ShotSpotter detected gunfire on Veterans Drive.

Beyond homicides, residents have endured armed robberies, burglaries and home invasions. In July, police issued a public warning about a spike in St. Croix commercial burglaries and residential break-ins, with nine reported in a single day. St. Thomas saw clusters of armed robberies in August and September, with victims confronted by masked suspects dressed in black. Police have recovered multiple firearms in recent incidents, including weapons fitted with conversion devices.

The executive order restricts the new system to exterior-facing government cameras and limits use to law-enforcement, public-safety, emergency-management and investigatory purposes. It also mandates cybersecurity safeguards and access auditing.

Governor Bryan framed the measure as efficient use of existing resources. "When it comes to fighting crime, we have to use every tool available to us," he said. "That means good police work. It means good intelligence. And increasingly, it means using technology in a smarter and more coordinated way."

The administration is also exploring voluntary arrangements with private property owners to share exterior cameras with law enforcement, though no mandate has been announced.

Separately, Bryan announced a salary agreement with the Police Benevolent Association: starting officers will earn $50,000 and police cadets $45,000. Police Commissioner Brooks said VIPD will shortly announce start dates for new recruit classes.