Dec. 14, 2003 — Early morning walks along the waterfront in the quiet town of Frederiksted usually provide few sights other than a few seagulls, pelicans and local fishermen bobbing in the Caribbean. But this Sunday a small crowd at the fishermen's dock near the Marley Housing Community saw an unusual sight: a military landing barge receiving two military trucks and then sailing off.
The military men and trucks were part of a contingent of Alpha Company from the U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico.
According to Sgt. Thomas Hannah, spokesperson for the V.I. Police Department, the contingent was assigned to deliver surplus office furniture to the new police station in the Rainbow Center. "In cooperation with the National Guard and the High Intensity Drug Task Agency (HIDTA), VIPD was able to acquire some badly needed office desks, chairs and file cabinets to equip their new offices," Hannah said.
Hannah went on to explain that VIPD Police Commissioner Elton Lewis was able to take advantage of his strong ties to the military. "He [Lewis] is a colonel in the National Guard and he serves on the Drug Interdiction Board." Hannah says Lewis has been able to partner with other agencies that can render assistance to the department in a number of significant ways.
"The new Blue Lightning Task Force building in Christiansted was a joint venture between HIDTA and the VIPD," said Hannah adding, "There are a lot of positive things going on in the VIPD."
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