Above: USVI Governor John de Jongh with Rodney F Querrard (Photo: OG USVI)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

United States Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh has nominated Rodney Querrard as the territory’s next Commissioner of Police.

Querrard previously served as police chief in the St Thomas-St John district from 2007 to 20012.

He was named in January as Assistant Commissioner, and on the same day became Acting Commissioner, succeeding Henry White, Jr, who resigned in January after less than a year in the post.

White had assumed office in March 2012.

“I cannot say enough about Commissioner Querrard’s willingness to use his experience and talent in a key leadership position within the VIPD, the agency that is charged with providing for our community’s safety and security,” de Jongh.

Querrard joined the police force in 1987.

“Since assuming the commissionership and with my full endorsement, he has begun a top to bottom assessment of the department,” the Governor said. “All aspects of the VIPD are currently under review: from the department’s management team which includes the chiefs and deputy chiefs who are the front line officers of the department, to manpower deployment and officer assignments, from firearms policies, to the department’s continuing work to satisfy the current federal consent decree, from the continued in-service training for members of the police force, to the use of federal resources to combat crime in the territory.”

De Jongh said the territory would remain vigilant in addressing the problem of illegal guns in the USVI as well.

“We will continue in our efforts to end this period of wanton disregard for the safety of our residents by those who are determined to possess and use illegal firearms,” he said.

Querrard has recommended James Parris be appointed as St Croix Police Chief and Lt Arthur Hector as St Croix Deputy Chief.

“With the cooperation of this administration, all personnel in the VIPD (sworn and civilian staff), increased assistance from local and federal law enforcement agencies and the continue assistance and cooperation of the public, we can ensure that the USVI remains being called second to none,” Querrard said.

His nomination still needs to be approved by the Senate.