Dear Source:
Your article "When Officers Cross the Line: An In-Depth Look at Police Internal Affairs" was very interesting, informative and most of all portrayed a sense of balance and a desire to state the facts and not simply to persecute the VI Police Department, its officers or supervisors.
While we all wish that police officers could all represent the moral integrity we ideally associate with that profession, the truth of the matter is, they are only human and subject to all the flaws, bad judgments and indiscretions many of us face every day. Some of us make the right choices as we go about our life; and sadly, some do not.
But what was commendable about the article is that it was not quick to shout "COVER UP!" as other local publications have done so many times in the past.
I, for one, have never bought into that "conspiracy theory" premise that many residents (and some media) perpetrate and feed until it has evolved into the overgrown monster it is today eating up people's reputations and spitting them out like spoiled vegetables.
So, I appreciate that the reporter took the time to investigate why some cases are stymied in the department itself, why some never get to court, or if they do, are never convicted and why sometimes the accused is exonerated by special pardon after prosecution.
I admire Police Commissioner James McCall for consenting to answer these questions and for being so candid about where the department needs improvement. The fact is, if your actions are making me look bad or causing me not to be able to perform my job to the best of my ability, I need to expose you, not "take one for the team."
This is a good example of the "transparent government" the de Jongh administration is touting. This time it seems they got it right.
Kudos to the VI Source and to Commissioner James McCall!
Victoria Williams
St. Croix
Editor's 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.
