Purpose

The United States Virgin Islands Peace Officer Standards and Training, commonly known as POST, were established according to Title 23 V.I.C. § 1201 to meet the standards of training for all peace officers.  Its purpose is to promote a high level of professionalism and training for peace officers of all law enforcement agencies within the territories while protecting the safety and welfare of its citizens.

Mission

To ensure peace officers in the territory receive the most professional law enforcement training in order for all officers to provide committed service and protection for the community.

Our Values

POST is dedicated to ensuring professional standards and assistance for all officers by remaining Resolute in our commitment to train, enforce, and set the professional standards that officers need to perform their agencies effectively. 

The Peace Officers Standards and Training Council shall be comprised as follows:

• The Police Commissioner
• The Attorney General or his/her designee;
• Director of the Virgin Islands Fire Services or his/her designee;
• Police Chiefs from the Districts of St. Croix and St. Thomas
• The Director of Enforcements for the Department of Planning and Natural Resources;
• The Director of the Department of Corrections; and
• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Council Officers

Ray Martinez, Police Commissioner – Council Chairperson

Wynnie Testamark, Director of the Bureau of Corrections – Council Vice-Chairperson

Daryl George, Director of the VI Fire Service- Council Secretary/ Treasurer

Steven Phillip, Police Chief St. Thomas District- Council Member

Sean Santos, Police Chief St. Croix District- Council Member

Howard Forbes, Director of Enforcement for the Department of Planning and Natural Resources – Council member

Ariel Smith, Attorney General Nominee – Council Member

Rhys Hodge, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the VI – Council Member

Gleston E. McIntosh, Jr. POST Executive Director

Functions and Duties of the Council

The Council shall have the following functions and duties together with all powers necessary or convenient for the performance thereof:

• To study, obtain data, statistics, and make reports concerning the recruitment, selection, and training of law enforcement officers in the United States Virgin Islands. Making improvements in methods of recruitment, selection, and training of law enforcement officers;
• To review from time to time the standards described in 23 V.I.C. § 1207 for applicants for and appointees as law enforcement officers;
• To consider, hold public hearings on, adopt and promulgate standards relating to the physical, mental and moral fitness of any applicant for or appointee as a law enforcement officer as do not lower the standards in 23 V.I.C. § 1206 or as otherwise permitted by 23 V.I.C. § 1207;
• To consider and make reports from time to time concerning the work, the curriculum, and courses offered by law enforcement training schools in the United States Virgin Islands and to make recommendations for improving the schools, curriculum, and courses;
• To encourage the establishment of law enforcement training schools and courses on law enforcement in existing institutions of learning;
• To gather statistics and data relative to standards and training and make the same available to governmental entities upon request;
• To revoke its approval or certification of any person appointed or certified pursuant to this article for failure to meet the continuing training or education requirements set forth in the rules of the Council or for failure to meet the requirements of 23 V.I.C. § 1207 ;
• To make an investigation to determine whether the requirements of this article and the rules, regulations, and standards of the Council issued pursuant to this article are being observed and followed;
• To enforce this article and the rules, regulations, and standards issued by the council with appropriate civil and criminal actions by the Attorney General or other appropriate officials;
• To enter into cooperative agreements with federal and local law enforcement agencies for effective training; and
• To obtain the services and advice of experts in law enforcement to aid the Council in its studies, considerations, reports, recommendations, and in the adoption of standards, rules and regulations.

Executive Director

The Executive Director of the Council is a certified law enforcement officer with the power of arrest as defined in Rule 204-X-1-.01 (13) and shall be responsible for the administration of Council policy. The Executive Director is designated as an agent for the Council for service of legal process upon the Council. The Executive Director shall be the custodian of the seal and shall have authority to affix the seal to agreements and obligations of the Council and to certify copies of the proceedings of the Council. All correspondence to the Council, including requests for the information, submissions, and other requests, should be made through the Executive Director.