Community policing has been implemented in Police Departments around the US. Community policing is a joint effort that involves the community and the police department in finding ways to curb crime. Involving the community in an effort to assist the police in solving crimes, personalizes police service. Developing a partnership between the two is what best describes the community policing concept.

In a small community such as the Virgin Islands community policing skills and procedures are non-existent. Many residents complain about police officers lack of interaction skills, which has brought about widespread community distrust for the department.

The Virgin Islands Police Department has held town hall meetings and have received complaints from residents about inadequate response times to inaccurate police reporting, by their officers.

The Department in more ways than one has displayed inadequacy and non-existent community policing skills, which is important to a community.

The need for a community policing unit incorporated into VIPD, could establish neighborhood watch and crime preventions programs along with a citizen patrol unit. The development of this unit could prove to be an asset to the Department.