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Police needs more public support to solve crimes – Top CoP

- Calls on persons who witness crimes to come forward & 'do what is right'
Commissioner of Police, Mr Michael B. Matthews has called for more public support to solve high-profile crimes in the Virgin Islands, the latest being the shooting death of Deverson Williams, a national of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
On Tuesday March 16, 2021, at Fish Bay, Tortola, Deverson Williams, a national of St Vincent and the Grenadines and resident of Belle Vue was gunned down in broad daylight. Photo: Team of Reporters
On Tuesday March 16, 2021, at Fish Bay, Tortola, Deverson Williams, a national of St Vincent and the Grenadines and resident of Belle Vue was gunned down in broad daylight. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Commissioner of Police Mr Michael B. Matthews has called for more public support to solve high-profile crimes in the Virgin Islands, the latest being the shooting death of Deverson Williams, a national of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

The Police commissioner was at the time speaking at a press conference, alongside Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Governor John J. Ranking CMG, on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Force needs more public assistance - Top CoP 

“When you have reckless, murderous people who are willing to do what we saw here again on Tuesday and put everyone's lives at risk including mine, yours, our families… they are people who we have to make every effort to prevent from continuing to commit crimes like that.”

Mr Matthews said the only way to clean the streets of criminals is for the force to track down criminals and lock them up for a long time; however, he said the police cannot do it alone.

“I've said this many many times since I've been Commissioner of Police, we have to have the public support and you cannot keep turning your back on this and saying it's the police job to solve that crime, cause we can't do it alone”

Mr Matthews said despite the availability of modern technology and should the force have a large number of police officers, to see crime being committed, law enforcement still needs public support to be successful.

Do what is right - Top CoP 

“If we haven't got witnesses willing to come forward and say I saw who did it, I saw the registration number of the car, I saw the colour of the vehicle and which direction it's headed... If we haven't got that then we're going to be lost, we're going to be lost as a community and as a society here in the BVI,” Mr Matthews said.

He said, however, the good news is that more people are coming forward and that the force has witnesses who are coming forward and helping to solve crimes, especially relating to the latest shooting death.

While the Commissioner said he understands the fear in coming forwarding regarding certain crimes, he said ultimately persons have a duty to come forward and do what is right.

28 Responses to “Police needs more public support to solve crimes – Top CoP”

  • Youth (23/03/2021, 13:50) Like (25) Dislike (4) Reply
    This man will not get help from the community because in his last press conference he told the public who was helping him. Where is the confidentiality?
    • Mandingo (23/03/2021, 15:59) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
      Honestly, Commissioner you were doing good all along these years until you opened your mouth and made the comment about the driver of the car behind the victim. Even though the comment might seem insignificant to you.... That was so wrong on all fronts! this is a very small country. I thought by now you would have learned our culture. A very SMART culture I might add.... This is something you JUST DO NOT SAY... Very smart people live here. -- LISTEN AND LEARN----
  • omg (23/03/2021, 13:50) Like (25) Dislike (6) Reply
    How will the police get the public to help when the Head cop does not shut his mouth.
  • My Take (23/03/2021, 13:52) Like (17) Dislike (5) Reply
    This man should be fired immediately. He has put persons life in danger by saying who is helping the police with the murder.
  • SHAME (23/03/2021, 13:54) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    I am so ashamed of how this Chief of police has handled persons who are assisting the police to solve these murders.
  • Really (23/03/2021, 14:09) Like (18) Dislike (7) Reply
    never. TOO MANY CROOKED COPS!
  • TWO EIGHT FOUR (23/03/2021, 14:11) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Noooooooo.............. please rephrase this topic to.... WE NEED MORE TRUSTED POLICE OFFICERS
  • Norris Turnbull (23/03/2021, 14:13) Like (26) Dislike (1) Reply
    To get the public help. Your officers need to keep their dam mouths shut about confidential informants. They need to mingle with the community more and not be just driving around in AC vehicles all day.
  • Fear and Intelligence. (23/03/2021, 14:42) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Non related, but factual. Black intelligence is one of the most highly feared things in the world, not the criminal, Ask The W.S. news outlet over there has made that notion abundantly clear.
  • musa (23/03/2021, 14:46) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    I think the top cop can do a lot better
  • WHY? (23/03/2021, 14:55) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    When is the public responsible for enforcement? Years of allowing small infringements to escalate into larger ones now has the place lawless.
  • We would but (23/03/2021, 15:03) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Honestly we’d like to assist! We’re just concerned that every time we assist it’s mentioned in the media. You’ll get more out of the community if you just keep quiet.
  • The TRUTH (23/03/2021, 15:14) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's weird. Ballistics, DNA, fingerprints, CCTV etc. get the job done elsewhere.
  • Wendy (23/03/2021, 15:37) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    this is the same department that condone its staff members to loot during 2017 hurricane the same law enforcement officers that took an oath to uphold the law of this land. ever time you turn your head someone within that department tampering with evidence or associated with the drug industry...this is same industry these police officers swear to fight against and now using their uniforms and blatantly committing criminal offences in this little place

    only God knows about the shooting

    i can see the department getting information for stolen property or someone pushing dope in the hud

    i can't see some person or persons planning on committing murders walking around tell others of their intentions to go out and kill

    what can be said
    The guys up and down on the public roads with unlawful bike goes to someone house each and every night



    • wow (24/03/2021, 04:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I repeat! LET THE POLICE GO OUT AND DO WHAT THEY ARE BEING PAID TO DO. SERVE AND PROTECT NOT DRESS IN A UNIFORM HARASSING CITIZENS BUT THEY ARE THE POLICE. POLICE MY FOOT. VET THESE INDIVIDUALS THOROUGHLY AND THEIR MENTALITY AND DEMEANOR WOULD BE QUITE ALARMING. LET THEM GO DO POLICE WORK. THE SAME PEOPLE THEY HARASSING THEY WANT TO HELP THEM. ONLY IN THE BVI. HAVE PITY
  • What! (23/03/2021, 15:42) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    So gus’s white crony sycophant now wants to engage us???!

    Bit too late for that, mate!

    Go take another selfie with your best friend gus on a yacht as we starve.

    Get off our necks and leave already. And take your tone deaf social media with you!
    • What? (24/03/2021, 08:26) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Hey, What. Y’all know that the BVI is one of the richest populations in the world? All you squealing about boots on necks and ‘we poor people’ are just appropriating other peoples’ realities to create a false narrative. BVI people got - a) land, b) businesses like crazy, c) property worth money for borrowing and making money from rents, d) family networks across the islands that so most people don’t slide onto desperation, d) family networks in the US, USVI and others giving alternative places to go live/earn/school/have babies for multi citizenship status, e) cash from all this cash that’s passing through here by fast boat that waters the economy like morning showers and keeps our kids in fine sunglasses and bikinis and sweet wheels and Gucci bags and consumer goods that real poor people in Haiti, Yemen, Somalia ain’t going to touch in their whole lifetimes. You all can complain about hating the UK and white people much as y’all like but that’s just your hate. Ain’t no real story of oppression for these super privileged islands. You just greedy and you like melee too much.
      • Thanks! (24/03/2021, 16:49) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

        Thanks Mrs M*******! Clearly trolling to deflect from your inept h******, no doubt. Oh, and your white saviour mentality is so last decade. But what does one expect living it up in the Carribbean with all expenses paid, courtesy of us, the taxpayer. Oh, and you don’t even pay tax.

        Go take a seat.

        • No thanks (25/03/2021, 07:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

          Haha! I don't think the COP's wife wrote that. But I DO think you can't handle the truth written in it.
          Does not say anything pointing to "white saviour mentality". It's saying the opposite - the BVI doesn't need saving. We have plenty of wealth here, unlike other parts of the world where they have nothing.We just need some decency, not greed and hate.

  • Shameful (23/03/2021, 15:51) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    The police are not confidential. PERIOD
  • Leave the COP alone! (23/03/2021, 17:03) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    What a set of cowards! Looking for an excuse to stay silent. Stop the talk! We just a set of cowards justifying ourselves. Plenty people see what happen. Them boys can't kill alĺ of we. If I know you it is I would talk. Nobody ain't gonna put me in prison in fear. This my home!!!
  • Boss (23/03/2021, 17:14) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    After all this that going against me ...I decided long time to raise hell..
  • facts (23/03/2021, 18:32) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Mike Mathews like the media he going get a whistle blower killed
  • @leave the cop alone (23/03/2021, 21:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    U so unrealistic..u might be such a @$$ to be not scared but ur love may disagree with that and after all is said and done u will ......stop being a fool there die hard
  • SO PATHETIC (24/03/2021, 08:30) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    You all can make every excuse in the book that you want. If people don't start talking, more daylight murders will continue to happen and will become the norm. For a place that is so consumed with gossip and minding other people's business, we go completely silent when it comes to crime. If that's how you all want it, be prepared to live with the consequences. It is very difficult for the Police to solve crimes without surveillance foot and/or eye witnesses.
  • @so pathetic (24/03/2021, 09:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    U so not afraid but is one thing tho ...u protecting ur identity...people dont listen to this unrealistic nussiant..for only a fool go thirsty in the abundance of water... yes prove me wrong all us by ..show ur real name...even if it not u see realness
  • jah know (24/03/2021, 10:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about releasing the CCTV footages of the area from the last murder? I'm sure they have the suspects vehicle on camera.
  • old (24/03/2021, 17:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you have another man dead.. That the time you want. To serve the crime.. You all no how did it..


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