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HomeNewsArchivesGARCIA IS OUT AS THE TERRITORY'S TOP COP

GARCIA IS OUT AS THE TERRITORY'S TOP COP

Nov. 26, 2001 – Police Chief Jose Garcia has been replaced as the top cop in the Virgin Islands. The action came Monday, reportedly taken by Police Commissioner Franz Christian.
WVWI/Radio One quoted well-placed government sources on Monday as confirming the report and also quoted unnamed sources as saying that Christian has directed the two district deputy chiefs, Theodore Carty for St. Thomas-St. John and Novelle Francis on St. Croix, to assume full responsibility for police operations in their respective districts until a new territorial chief is named.
The radio station also cited reports on Monday that Francis is the leading candidate to succeed Garcia.
Late in the day Monday, Government House distributed a three-sentence press release stating that Gov. Charles W. Turnbull had approved Christian's recommendation that Garcia be removed. It said he was to return to the position of police captain effective immediately.
No reason for the shakeup at the top of the Police Department was cited. According to the radio station's sources, the action was taken following a four-hour meeting on Monday of Turnbull, Christian and other top administration officials at the governor’s official residence.

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