ST. THOMAS — The Virgin Islands Police Department filed a civil complaint today in Superior Court against the Police Benevolent Association, Local 816, and unnamed members of the bargaining unit, alleging an illegal work stoppage that left critical law enforcement posts unmanned during a major festival weekend on St. Thomas, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit, filed in the St. Thomas/St. John District, accuses the union and its members of violating both Virgin Islands labor law and their collective bargaining agreement by orchestrating a sick-out during a high-demand weekend that included the culmination on Sunday night of the annual festivities sponsored by the Committee for the Betterment of Carenage that drew hundreds of revelers to Frenchtown.
The absence of many police officers on Sunday and Monday endangered public safety, with multiple units — including downtown patrol, special operations, school security, and criminal and traffic investigations — reporting near-complete staff absences, according to the complaint filed by Assistant Attorney General Eric Chancellor. The government claims that these actions amount to an unlawful strike and concerted work stoppage under Title 24 of the Virgin Islands Code, which prohibits such actions by public safety personnel.
The complaint alleges the union’s actions are aimed at influencing compensation and working conditions, which is prohibited for law enforcement personnel. The mass absences jeopardized public safety and forced VIPD supervisors to work overtime, creating further operational and financial strain on the department, according to the complaint.
In an affidavit supporting the complaint, Police Commissioner Mario Brooks described a severe VIPD staffing crisis in the St. Thomas/St. John District during the alleged sick-out, which coincided with 11 officers attending mandatory National Guard training.
On Sunday, all three police officers scheduled for the day shift on St. Thomas called out sick. On St. John, one officer reported to work Sunday, while two called out sick, one had the day off and one had a vacation day. During Sunday’s night shift on St. Thomas, four officers had the day off, two officers called out sick, one officer was on vacation leave, and one was on military leave. Two officers from the downtown patrol assignment who were reassigned to the Frenchtown Village also called out sick on Sunday.
On Monday, six officers from the Special Operations Bureau, six officers in the Criminal Investigations Bureau, and all five officers in the Traffic Investigations Bureau called out sick during the day shift on St. Thomas, while all seven school security officers called out sick.
Brooks indicated in his affidavit that the alleged strike forced the VIPD to require police supervisors and peace officers from other agencies cover shifts to prevent “complete catastrophe” because of inadequate staffing.
The government emphasized that VIPD personnel are considered “Class III” employees under labor law, meaning that even short-term work stoppages could have severe consequences.
The complaint includes a letter from PBA President Joel Browne Connors, which the government says supports its claim that the union sanctioned the work stoppage.
In his letter to members of the PBA on Monday, Connors communicated a message from Governor Albert Bryan Jr. that all officers return to duty immediately. Connors added: “But let me be very clear: I stand behind your actions. You have shown strength, unity, and purpose. You are making a difference.”
The complaint further alleges that the timing of the strike is calculated to also coincide with the upcoming St. John Festival, which draws thousands of visitors and residents.
The plaintiffs — the VI government and VIPD — are seeking a temporary restraining order and both preliminary and permanent injunctions against the union and its members to compel officers to return to work. The complaint also requests damages and attorneys’ fees for what the government characterizes as a breach of contract, failure to act in good faith, and statutory violations.
The workforce challenges continued today, according to VIPD.
