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Reader Commends Ray Martinez for His Openness

Dear Source,
In his address to Rotary, Ray Martinez can only be highly commended for his brutally frank estimation of the VIPD. He hit the nail right on the head and I sincerely trust that his words will ring out loud and clear to both the highest echelons of Government House and to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
Countless residents of the USVI have been subjected for too many years to abuse from ill-trained newbies who are so illiterate that they can't write up a simple report in simple English. Other newbies seem to feel that the heft of the stock of the barrel on their hip gives them, "Terminator" status and they can pull over someone for a simple infraction and then load on a whole bunch of other alleged infractions.
With all due respect, the recent town meetings which Delegate to Congress Donna Christian-Green instigated were all well and good in their intentions but were attended by only a few people. The problem is that the general populace remains very scared about confronting police issues. Ray Martinez was in the news for a while when he took up his position as "ombudsman" for the VIPD but then there wasn't any further news about him or his role.
He has no listing in the Green Pages – people forget! People just don't know to whom they should turn when something goes very wrong in their sometimes bad encounters with the VIPD.
The community in general should not be scared of the police. The community should feel assured that whenever they call either 911 or their local precinct, their call will be promptly answered with alacrity and a highly professional attitude.
Crime in the USVI is a high-point of contention and angst to many of the internet searchers who regularly look to the USVI as either a place to vacation or a place to relocate.
Thanks you, Ray Martinez, for your wonderfully blunt approach. You're a breath of fresh air!
Sincerely,
Anna Clarke
St. Thomas

Editors note:We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

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