Less than a week after the island’s first murder in almost two years, Sgt. Darren Foy, a 15 year law enforcement officer with national credentials and experience including service with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, has been named the new Deputy Chief for St. John.
V.I. Police Commissioner James McCall announced Foy’s appointment June 25, along with those of chiefs and deputy chiefs for the other islands. All the appointments were effective June 25.
The appointments are consistent with the deJongh-Francis administraton’s commitment to localize management of the police department by district, according to Commissioner McCall who had promised St. John residents at an early June town meeting that a St. John Deputy Chief would be appointed.
“Making these five appointments is one of many steps that we will take in the ongoing effort to transform this agency into one that is efficient in the fight against crime and one that is supported by the community,” McCall said in his announcement of the appointments.
Brass Not Available For Comment
Neither Comm. McCall nor Deputy Chief Foy returned telephone calls for further comment.
Foy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement Administration. Foy also holds Top Secret National Security Clearance and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. His most recent assignment has been with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
During his years of assignment with the Safe Streets Task Force, Foy has attended numerous training programs offered by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Army Military Police School. He is the recipient of an Outstanding Operation Award by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces of Florida and the Caribbean Region.
In addition, Foy has served as an instructor at the VIPD Training Academy and has worked in the department’s Forensics Unit.
Lieutenant Rodney Querrard has been named as the Chief of Police for the St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island district. Lieutenant Melvin Venzen has been appointed Deputy Chief for the island of St. Thomas.
Chief Querrard joined the VIPD in 1987 and brings two decades of experience and an extensive law enforcement background to his new position. Querrard comes to the Chief’s post after an eight-year assignment as a member of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Joint Task Force, assigned to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Unit.
Querrard spent the first three years of his career working undercover and during that time received many commendations for arrests and convictions. Other assignments have included supervising squads in the various Patrol Divisions. He is a two-time recipient of Officer of the Year.
Appointed in the St. Croix District were Lieutenant Thomas Hannah as Chief of Police and Lieutenant Raphael Bramble as Deputy Chief.
Commissioner McCall thanked Sergeants Winsbut McFarlande and Milton Peterson who served as acting chiefs for the two island districts since February 21.
“They have both done well in beginning the process towards restoring the public’s confidence in the VIPD and I appreciate their dedicated efforts towards our stated goals and objectives,” McCall said.
