Sen. Kenneth Gittens, a former police officer, voiced frustration with the justice system during Tuesday’s Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Works hearing, telling Attorney General Nominee Gordon Rhea that residents are losing faith.
Gittens pointed to a case where police had built a strong homicide case with witnesses ready to testify, but prosecutors accepted a plea deal, reducing the charge from murder to manslaughter. Gittens called it a case of “laziness.”
Rhea, four months into his role, acknowledged the issue but blamed a lack of manpower. While he wasn’t in charge when the plea deal was made, he emphasized that prosecutors often face difficult choices to clear dockets and prioritize “serious cases.” His department currently has 18 prosecutors, though it should have 25.
Sen. Franklin Johnson, also with a law enforcement background, shared his own family’s unresolved case. He recounted how his nephew was killed by a drunk driver seven years ago, and the case remains incomplete. “If we can’t resolve a DUI case, what can we do?” Johnson asked, adding that when prosecutors fail, it’s the police who face criticism.
Senators also criticized the ongoing lack of a morgue on St. Croix. Without one, bodies requiring autopsies must be sent to St. Thomas, causing costly delays and emotional distress for families. Johnson called the situation “stressful.”
Chief Financial Officer Kai Christopher testified that the government spent $49,000 in 2023 transporting bodies to and from St. Thomas, and $40,000 so far this year—not including officer travel expenses.
The department has a mobile morgue stored with the Port Authority, but it was damaged during hurricanes. A potential site for a permanent morgue on St. Croix’s mid-island was deemed unsuitable, and Rhea said his department is now working with the Department of Health to lease a different location. He expects it to be operational within two months, with a backup plan involving Juan Luis Hospital. However, Johnson warned that the hospital site could be temporary due to ongoing construction of a new facility.
Rhea also highlighted the need for a state-of-the-art case management system, noting that some processes still rely on paper from the 1980s. The new system, costing $690,000, will eliminate paper files, streamline data exchange with police and federal prosecutors, and alert prosecutors to court deadlines.
Senators present at the committee meeting included Gittens, Bolques Jr., Javan James Sr., Diane Capehart, Marise James, Ray Fonseca, Francis Heyliger, Dwayne DeGraff, Novelle Francis Jr., and Johnson.
