Non-profit organization Our Town Frederiksted (OTF) in St. Croix has revealed plans to partner with the Virgin Islands Police Department as part of a continued effort to increase safety and revitalize the area. Plans include adding an additional police presence across Frederiksted and events to encourage community involvement.
The OTF organization, which aims to revitalize Frederiksted while preserving the town’s history and culture, recently shared a press release detailing the collaboration between the organization and the VIPD.
“Our Town Frederiksted, Inc. is pleased to announce a productive series of meetings with the Virgin Islands Police Department to address pressing concerns related to safety and security in Frederiksted,” according to information in the press release. “The discussions focused on key issues affecting the town, including gun violence, general safety, loitering, lack of police presence, noise ordinance enforcement, and strategies for securing funding to support surveillance and security initiatives,” the press release continued.
“During the meetings, OTF leadership and VIPD representatives explored ways to enhance community well-being through initiatives that go beyond traditional policing,” the press release stated. “While the need for increased police presence and improved lighting in Frederiksted was acknowledged, a significant focus was placed on community engagement and the importance of building trust between residents and law enforcement,” the release said.
VIPD and OTF Collaboration Details
Aimee Griles-Cariño, executive director of OTF, provided further information to the Source about the goals of OTF. She shared specific challenges that Frederiksted has faced, as well as more details about the group’s plans to give new life to Frederiksted.
“OTF’s vision is to be the leading advocate for the transformation and revitalization of Frederiksted,” Griles-Cariño stated. “We’re deeply committed to preserving the town’s rich history while promoting sustainable growth, [and] we believe Frederiksted can be a model of community-driven renewal, where residents, businesses, and visitors work together to celebrate our culture and build a prosperous future,” she continued.
“Frederiksted, like many areas across the territory, has faced challenges such as economic decline, increased loitering, and limited enforcement of noise ordinances,” Griles-Cariño explained. “The degradation of the town, exacerbated by natural disasters and violence, has contributed to a sense of neglect. A major concern is the lack of consistent police presence, which makes it difficult to deter loitering and enforce ordinances,” she said.
“To address these issues, we are working with the VIPD and agencies [including the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority] to increase lighting in key areas and enhance safety,” Griles-Cariño noted.
“Following our recent meetings [with the VIPD], increased police presence was quickly implemented [and focused] on [locations] with higher foot traffic and loitering concerns, such as Market Street and King Street,” Griles-Cariño said. “This visible presence is vital for improving safety, reducing response times, and providing reassurance to both residents and visitors,” she added.
“More frequent patrols also signal a commitment to maintaining order and addressing concerns like parking violations and noise ordinance enforcement,” Griles-Cariño continued.
Frederiksted Community Involvement and Building Trust
Griles-Cariño stressed that community involvement and building trust between the police and the public is a major priority of the organization.
“Our partnership with VIPD is centered on collaboration between law enforcement and residents,” Griles-Cariño said. “In addition to increasing patrols, we’re launching community-focused initiatives like “Clean4Green,” [which is an OTF initiative that will be launched in the near future, which will provide the opportunity for] residents [to] earn stipends for cleaning up public spaces,” she explained.
“[Initiatives such as the upcoming Clean4Green] program not only address littering and loitering but [the initiatives] also promote ownership and respect for the community,” Griles-Cariño stated.
“Building trust between VIPD and the community is crucial to achieving long-term safety and revitalization,” Griles-Cariño proclaimed.
“Lieutenant Herminia Rivera [with the VIPD] mentioned during [a meeting between OTF and the VIPD that] respect is key in Frederiksted,” Griles-Cariño said. “[The] VIPD is not just increasing patrols. [The officers are] actively engaging with residents, [and] by showing a genuine interest in the community’s needs and offering programs that connect residents with resources, we aim to create a more collaborative [and engaged] environment,” Griles-Cariño noted.
Funding for Additional Safety Measures
Griles-Cariño explained that OTF hopes to secure funding and put together grant proposals to pay for safety measures for the community.
“OTF is actively working with VIPD to secure funding for various public safety initiatives,” said Griles-Cariño. “[An example] includes acquiring tools like sound level meters for [the purpose of] enforcing noise ordinances and security cameras for key areas [across Frederiksted].”
“We’re exploring grants through local and federal sources such as the Law Enforcement Planning Commission, [and] we are working on grant proposals to ensure we can provide the necessary resources to improve both safety and the overall environment of Frederiksted,” Griles-Cariño added.
Through the partnership program with the VIPD, Griles-Cariño revealed that she is most excited about creating a new perception of Frederiksted as a safer town.
“I’m excited about how this partnership can shift the narrative surrounding Frederiksted. For too long, there’s been a perception that the town isn’t safe. This collaboration is an opportunity to change that and restore pride in our beautiful, culturally rich town. By working together, we can mobilize residents, businesses, and law enforcement to create a more vibrant, secure Frederiksted that everyone can feel proud of,” she said.
Events and Opportunities for Community Engagement
Community members are invited to join OTF and become involved with Frederiksted’s revitalization.
“We have a number of exciting events coming up, including a town clean-up in early October, a Halloween celebration, a community town hall, a music concert series, and holiday festivities,” Griles-Cariño stated. “Additionally, we’ll be hosting technical workshops for property owners to support affordable housing developments, [and we] encourage residents to get involved by volunteering, attending events, or becoming OTF members,” she continued.
“For more information [about how to become involved], visit [the official website of the OTF organization] or email joinus@ourtownfrederiksted.org,” Griles-Cariño concluded. “[Individuals can also] follow OTF on social media for updates.”
