Treat firearms like a ‘deadly virus’- Acting DCP Jacqueline E. Vanterpool
‘Clean the Streets’ Operation
The ‘Clean the Streets’ Operation has seen some four teams of RVIPF officers deployed on Roll and Search as well as on mobile and foot patrols early last week to cover commercial centres and primarily cash-based entities during business hours, a press release from the RVIPF today, February 25, 2021, stated.
It said traffic and drug offenders were the only arrests made so far; however, the teams are providing the needed reassurance to businesses and intelligence support to the officers who work behind the scene.
The RVIPF also said, in continuance of the Joint Task Force working relationship, Customs and Immigration officers will also join in these roll and search operations around the territory to quell the recent rise in firearm-related incidences.
Sporadic spells of gun-related violence
Acting Deputy Commissioner Vanterpool said while the VI generally enjoys months where there are no serious incidents, there are always sporadic spells.
“Fortunately we have long periods where gun-related violence is virtually non-existent. Then we have a brief spell where persons, feeling confident and bold after having acquired a firearm, commit robberies for short-term gain. Frequently, the individuals are either caught or simply stop because there is very little long-term profit in such activities,” she explained.
Treat firearms like a ‘deadly virus’
Acting DCP Vanterpool noted that firearms become more dangerous when they fall into the hands of the few who are volatile and unstable which likely played a factor in the recent gun-related deaths.
“There are individuals with hot-tempers and impulsive in any number of households within our community. A firearm in that mix is a dangerous thing. The sad thing is, the household knows when there is a weapon in the mix and remains silent. If this mindset does not change, we will continue to have these outbreaks. We have to treat firearms like we would any deadly virus. Get it out of the house and out of circulation as soon as possible,” she said.
“We are asking the public to help us to bring an end to this violence. If you know anyone who has or is carrying an illegal firearm or where one is being hidden, help by calling and pointing us in the right direction. We will do the rest,” Vanterpool added.
Persons with information of persons carrying illegal weapons can call the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339.
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16 Responses to “Treat firearms like a ‘deadly virus’- Acting DCP Jacqueline E. Vanterpool”
It a free for all now. They just walk about with it knowing they will not encounter a police officer.
Hell No. Stop killing one another but save your ....s for the right time , when the ting start.
So we are now vi our crimes has even take a turn from little bvi to VI to a notice .
Think about this it a group change their name for example from guard to executioner Is it the same.
Can anyone tell me why in every media and almost every news site you have to read about the BVI we have no longer REFERED to as the BVI.
,(our crime are now trying to be the of nolonger BVI but VI ).
The colloquial name is 'British Virgin Islands' to distinguish it from the Virgin Islands of the U.S. (colloquially 'U.S. Virgin Islands'), formerly the Danish West Indies before the transfer over 100 years ago from Denmark to the U.S.
Therefore, we have ALWAYS been the Virgin Islands. There is no turn. We are as we always have been.
"We have to treat firearms like we would any deadly virus. Get it out of the house and out of circulation as soon as possible,” she said."
As this pandemic has shown, there are those within our community who think a deadly virus is not a serious thing, that it is a hoax and fake news, that people who take precautions are living in fear and that a few cases is no big deal. Pretty much similar to how some people will turn a blind eye to the guns in their household because it's not affecting them directly.
The irony is, the community is already treating firearms like a deadly virus; the actions vary according to perceived personal danger ("It's not affecting me, so I don't need to take it seriously. I'm not going to die.")
What is needed, just like for the virus, is a public education drive to bring home the message.