Virgin Islands Police Department officers and community members gathered earlier in November to honor Police Officer Kerdin Lewis, who was named St. John’s Police Officer-of-the-Year.
Lewis was selected last May as part of National Police Week by members of the St. John Community Integration Team — better known as the CIT — in consultation with officials from the Leander Jurgen Command.
“The CIT selects a police officer who displays the dedication that is expected in serving the residents of St. John with pride and dignity,” said Capt. Sandra Colbourne. “Officer Lewis has truly on many occasions gone above and beyond his call of duty to address the needs of our residents and those who have been first time or returning visitors to the island. As the commander of Jurgen Command, it was an honor to see such a dedicated officer be presented with the Plaque of Honor for a ‘Job Well Done.’”
Lewis joined the police force in 2008 as an auxiliary officer and became a full-time member of the force in 2010. “I was always looking at a career in law enforcement,” he said. He began his career with the military police when he joined the Navy in 2005. Later, he worked in security at the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas. He also worked as a supervisor at Office Max on St. Thomas.
Lewis has become familiar to many on St. John in the nine-plus years he has been serving on the island. He said he enjoys getting to know the people from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. “It’s more like community-oriented policing on St. John. There’s lots of interaction with tourists. It’s not as hectic as St. Thomas.”
His greatest accomplishment is building relationships that grow over time. “I try to be open and communicate. It’s about knowing the people and diffusing situations.” He finds it gratifying that as he gets older, “People remind me of what I did for them.”
This year’s Officer-of-the-Year ceremony went beyond the usual photo-op during the week at the Zone Command. Instead, it was a Friday evening catered event hosted by Donald and Deborah Schnell at a villa.
The Community Integration Team, which organized the event, is made up of active and retired law enforcement officers from various local and federal agencies, as well as community members, business owners, and faith-based leaders.
Sandra Colbourne, as St. John’s zone commander, has been active in the organization. “To our community, always remember that when we all play a part as a stakeholder in the upkeep and safety of our paradise, there is no better investment in our future,” she said.
