A badly damaged Road Town Police Station in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Photo: VINO

The Police Headquarters in Sir Olva Georges Plaza was ravaged by Hurricane Irma. Photo: VINO

Commissioner of Police (CoP), Michael B. Matthews that he asked for a welfare team to be set up at the police station to assist officers in need. Photo: Facebook

The roof of the West End Police Station was also damaged by Hurricane Irma. Photo: VINO

Members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) receiving relief supplies following the passage of a hurricane Irma that damaged their homes. Photo: Provided

RVIPF officer receiving relief supplies. Photo: Provided

In an invited comment, Commissioner of Police (CoP), Michael B. Matthews said he asked for a welfare team to be set up at the police station to assist officers in need.

"It was clear a number of officers had lost everything but were reporting for duty and trying their best to help the communities. Many were sleeping on the floors of police stations," explained Commissioner Matthews.

He continued, "Officers have shown great resilience and been tested to the limits. I am extremely proud of their efforts in the face of extreme adversity and personal loss."

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Sean A. McCall, Detective Constable and Chairman of the Police Welfare Association (PWA), he explained that a PWA office was set up, after consulting the commissioner, to mainly assist officers in dealing with the post-hurricane Irma trauma.

"We had a form that we sent out to look at the needs of officers that were most vulnerable and we had officers that were totally displaced and we started addressing their needs first," Detective Constable McCall said.

"Was not an easy ride with DDM" - Sean A. McCall

Detective McCall revealed that getting relief supplies from the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) was not as easy as one would think, noting that DDM thought they were too aggressive.

Sean A. McCall said, "We have to be aggressive about our own because if we are going to be out there all day and all night working, our families and our homes have to have some sort of comfort. If we are not comfortable, we are not going to give you the best of our services."

The Police Welfare Association from St Vincent and the Grenadines donated relief supplies that assisted many officers as well as auxiliary officers and civilian staff, according to Detective McCall.

"I am happy that we were able to reach out not just to police officers but our support staff and our auxiliary officers," expressed the Chairman of PWA.

Other donations came from Clyde Chalwell who donated building supplies, Bill and Judy Reveno who gave monetary donations and businesses such as Caribbean Cellars, Tico, Convoy of Hope and African Pride who donated water and drinks.

Relief supplies in Trinidad and Tobago

Detective McCall disclosed to our news reporter that some 20-30 pallets relief supplies donated by the officers from Trinidad will arrive in the Virgin Islands (VI) as soon as the logistics on how to get them to the Territory is sorted out.

CoP donated personal funds to assist his officers

Speaking with the Chairman of the PWA, he expressed gratitude to the CoP for personally assisting the RVIPF officers.

He said, "commissioner Matthews has been very supportive of the welfare office. He even took some of his personal funds and ensured that we bought stuff to assist the officers."

He continued, "That speaks volume of the calibre of our commissioner and how he views the welfare of his officers. I must commend him on behalf of the association."

He went on to also commend Sergeant Brenton Smith, Chairperson of the Police Welfare Association of St Vincent and the Grenadines who took time off to visit the VI.