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Pulse of the Caribbean
The Pulse of the Caribbean Podcast with Kysha captures the Caribbean spirit. Listen to the latest news from the region, interviews with beautiful Caribbean people making exceptional contributions worldwide, and travel with us as we highlight destinations and activities. Inspirational messages are also shared. Experience the essence of the Caribbean right here.
Pulse of the Caribbean
#40 From Bet to Badge: How the USVI's First Female Police Chief Found Her Calling
History unfolds in the U.S. Virgin Islands as Deborah Hodge breaks the glass ceiling, becoming the first woman to lead the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department in the St. Thomas, St. John District. In this groundbreaking conversation, Chief Hodge shares the remarkable journey that began with a simple bet that launched Hodge's career in law enforcement.
What does this historic appointment mean? Listen now to hear how one woman's dedication is transforming an entire department's approach to serving with compassion and integrity.
#PulseoftheCaribbean #Caribbean #CaribbeanNews #womenleaders #womenleadership #CaribbeanStrong #caribbeanpodcast #trendingpost
Police Chief Deborah Hodge of the Virgin Islands Police Department, the first woman in the US territory to hold this position, is our guest on today's Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Hi, welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. I'm Keisha Blyden. Police Chief Deborah Hodge of the Virgin Islands Police Department, the first woman in the US territory to hold this position, is our guest on today's Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. At the close of March, the US Virgin Islands History Month and also Women's History Month, the governor of the US Virgin Islands, albert Bryan Jr, made the historic announcement, and today we'll learn more about this exceptional Caribbean woman and trailblazer who has broken the glass ceiling in the US Virgin Islands to US Virgin Islands. And with that we say welcome to US Virgin Islands Police Chief of the St Thomas, st John District Chief Deborah Hodge.
Speaker 1:Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Thank you, keisha. Well, it certainly is so wonderful to have you here with us, and this is the historic moment that we are still making first here in 2025, and you are first for the US Virgin Islands. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Police Chief Deborah Hodge? What words best describe you on your journey to becoming police chief for the St Thomas, st John District and breaking the glass ceiling.
Speaker 2:I am humbled, I am grateful, but at the same time I know that it's time and I am ready. And that's what pretty much sums it up. I think that I am ready to do exactly what the founding fathers expected of me in this capacity.
Speaker 1:When did you develop an interest in law enforcement? How did you get started on this road that is predominantly a male feel? How did you get started? Tell us what got you into law enforcement.
Speaker 2:So I'll tell you this I attended Howard University right out of high school and after the Hugo hurricane, my mom asked me to come back home for a little while. Hurricane, my mom asked me to come back home for a little while, you know. Until that went, that passed over and I came back home. I transferred to University of the Virgin Islands and every time I applied for a job, just because I had some experience in college not a degree as yet I would be told that I was overqualified. So I didn't really do much. I was at home, I started baking cakes I have a part-time business where I bake local cuisine but nonetheless I just was doing that.
Speaker 2:And one day I had a bet with my sister. But I made the bet knowing that deep down in my heart I wanted to work in an area where I would help people. But we had a bet that we were going to join the police academy. So the first step is taking a test at the Division of Personnel. I went and she didn't show up. She didn't show up, she did not show up. So I got there, I waited a while and when I didn't see her, I was not going to back down and I continued the process but in terms of me knowing that I wanted to be in a field that helped others, I recall one of the steps in getting into the academy is being examined by a psychologist and the psychologist made a way he said to me.
Speaker 2:He said are you sure you don't want to be a social worker? So for me that was not a deterrent, that was a sign for me that I was on the right path to helping others. And I continued and here I am today. Right path to helping others and I continued and here I am today. But I must say that my father is a retired police officer on St Thomas and even though I did not raise in the home with him, maybe somewhere subconsciously I wanted to be like him.
Speaker 1:So certainly you took on the challenge and tell us about that process, even about going through, because I know you said it started with a bet with your sister yeah, let's go, let's do this. She didn't show up but you proceeded and you went through the academy. So just tell us about that experience and just going through the academy as well, because I'm sure that that also took gut and grit to go through that process.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It was definitely challenging, but I stayed the course. Yeah, it was a long, hard journey and I had great influence. I had great classmates and we were all there, like with any other class. You know, you build these bonds with people that you go through this very, very, very serious challenge with. And upon completion of the academy I, of course, like everyone else, went straight to the patrol division. But there was something in the academy that stayed with me.
Speaker 2:One of my cadres would say quite often if you're good, everybody wants you. And what he meant by that is that in the academy and, by the way, I began my career in the VIPD on St Croix and not St Thomas, so I began on St Croix, so I was born on St Thomas and raised on St Croix. So the vet and the academy, all that came on St Croix. So that one cadre would always say if you're good, everybody wants you. And what he meant by that was that the work that you do in the patrol division is what determines where you go outside of the patrol division. So you have investigators watching traffic investigators, criminal investigation bureau investigators, all the specialized units picked from the patrol fleet to determine who they want to work in that specialized unit. I kept that in mind and I always ensured that whatever I did was to the best of my ability so that, in keeping with what he said, if you're good, everybody wants you. I wanted to be good. I wanted to be able to answer questions that came before me and if I did not know the answer, you. I wanted to be good. I wanted to be able to answer questions that came before me, and if I did not know the answer, I knew where to get it. So I trained hard, I studied hard, I graduated, I worked hard in the patrol division and then in 19, that was in 1995.
Speaker 2:In 1999, I got a call that there was an availability in the domestic violence unit. I applied, I got there and I stayed in a domestic violence unit from 1999 all the way to 2017. And I became a sergeant while there. Then I became a lieutenant while there. So I spent most of my career in a field that where I was able to speak domestic violence unit and I was assigned as the assistant commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. So now I was over the very unit that I worked for for all these years as the second in command.
Speaker 2:But then life happened in 2017. A lot occurred personally that I decided to take a break from St Croix. I was experiencing a very hurtful and public divorce and I decided to try St Thomas, because going to St Thomas where I was born, where my father still resides, my brother resides and many other family members I was able to still keep my tenure and work in the field that I love so much. And I transferred to St Thomas in September of 2017. And the day I arrived I did not know where I was going to be assigned. I kind of asked in my transfer request just send me to investigations, any capacity, because I know that's where my heart was. But as I arrived I was informed you are now the commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, which meant that I was the chief of investigations at that point. It was a lot, but I took it on.
Speaker 1:Took it on and I stayed there from 2017 to 2020, where I was then transferred. You said that one of the first things in the recruitment process was social work and it's quite interesting that after being on the beat in patrol that you were placed in domestic violence a unit where you said that you spoke for others or was available to others who felt like they did not have a voice Right. It certainly speaks volumes in terms of where your heart has been in helping others and also working within that unit for many years and even in your life journey. I know that one of the things that you also mentioned that police officers go through as it relates to entering the academy is seeing your preparedness as it relates to entering the academy, is seeing your preparedness psychologically to deal with public service, public safety and also your own well-being as well. And your life path how you started, yes, in St Croix, and you were at one level, and when you came over from St Croix then to the St Thomas, st John District, then that was perfect timing because with that then you elevated then to become commander of the criminal investigation unit. So that certainly is divine guidance or timing in your path that has led you to the position that you're currently in.
Speaker 1:And Governor Brine, in his announcement said Lieutenant Hodge lieutenant at that time, of course you're now chief is a dedicated and proven leader where you spent your career building trust, serving with distinction and setting the standard for what it means to protect and serve.
Speaker 1:And he says that your appointment is well-earned and long overdue. And the well-earned I understand that from the academy, where you stated they always want someone on the team that does their best. And you've said that and stated that in everything that you've done that you've put forth your best. And he said that he was proud to see you make this step and confident in your ability and skills to serve the US Virgin Islands as police chief a new level of service to the US Virgin Islands community. Now I know that the areas that you mentioned that you have been in, I know not only in the US Virgin Islands but across the globe and the world, but across the globe and the care and what is the training to deal with when you go into a home to address a situation, because we know that in those situations that certainly in domestic violence, there are tempers flared, there are people that are hurt. What is the training to deal with those situations and how do you help the community in those situations?
Speaker 2:So the training is rather extensive. One thing I am grateful for is, in working in the field of domestic violence, there's a lot of training available to law enforcement and for anyone who works in that field, because your colleagues are not just police officers, social workers, advocates. So I have developed a strong relationship in the community with the victim advocacy agencies, the social workers, because we recognize that dealing with families it needs a multifaceted approach. So one of the things that you must have in dealing with situations of domestic violence is sympathy, empathy, understanding. You cannot be judgmental, because one of the things that I've learned is that it takes a victim an average of 10 times to leave an abusive relationship before they really leave. So that just basically means that the victim is going to go back until they're ready. So one of the things that I have never done in my entire career is tell a victim to leave an abusive relationship, and that's one of the things that I teach other officers, because I teach domestic violence at the academy. I don't want officers because it's not going to help, it's not going to be beneficial to go to a home and say, hey, you need to leave. What you do instead is you tell them what resources are available to them, because people are not going to leave until they're ready, or they're going to leave and go right back. They're not going to leave because you said so. They're going to leave when they are ready.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, sometimes it's too late, but that is why there's laws in place so that if someone does commit a crime that you, as an officer, have to effect an arrest once there's probable cause, officer have to effect an arrest once there's probable cause. So our current, our local statutes indicate that if there's probable cause, when you get to a domestic violence call, you shall make an arrest. We do not have discretion. We do not have discretion in saying that. You know what? I think it's best you go to your mom's house and sleep it off. Oh, I think it's best that you go to your friend's house. Oh, I think you should work it up. Maybe you should go to counseling. Our law does not allow that. Our law says that if there is probable cause, you shall make an arrest. So we're bound by that and those policies and those laws that are in place help us to make the right decisions. So they're there to protect us and they're there to protect the victims. Ultimately, no-transcript.
Speaker 1:The agency, the police, work in concert with the social workers and with agencies, then, to assist victims of crime, to provide that support and perhaps even guide them in making the determinations or the decisions that they need to make for themselves. As you said, you cannot tell a person what to do, but certainly you do give them the guidance and the resources and outlets within the community where they can seek help and assistance during the crisis. And the other area that you mentioned was being involved in economics. So just tell us about that division and some of the work that you did within that division.
Speaker 2:So, to answer the first part of the question, as an officer and dealing with crimes of domestic violence, your role is quite unique because you have to switch from providing that advocacy and that sensitivity and almost simultaneously, in some instances now you have to make an arrest. So you have to be prepared that when you enter a home that you are going to be playing dual roles and that could become quite dangerous because for the most part when victims call 911, they're not calling so that you can arrest their loved one. They're not calling so that you can break up their quote unquote happy home. They just want the abuse to stop. So there's a lot of dynamics to dealing with cases of domestic violence and that's just one of those. But as far as economic crime economic crimes when I was first transferred there I initially was like how am I going to transfer from domestic violence to economic crime? But then I realized there's so much domestic violence to economic crime. But then I realized there's so much domestic violence and economic crime that I just use the investigatory skills that I learned throughout my career in a different angle. So economic crime is a very interesting field and I think that what that did for me was it helped me to look at crime from a different perspective.
Speaker 2:Just like domestic violence, for the most part people are not necessarily receptive to it. So, for instance, in domestic violence there's this belief that the laws are biased and you just care about the women, nobody cares about the men, which is 100% false. And in economic crime, I think, for the most part there's a lot of work involved. Sometimes it takes a year to complete an investigation because you have to wait for subpoenas and you know evidence from the banks and other financial institutions. But it takes some time and then you go to court and it's as if they get a slap on the wrist Because we find that you know white collar crime, economic crime.
Speaker 2:It's not looked upon as something serious, like a serious type of crime, but I feel in my what five years there, it is a very, very serious crime.
Speaker 2:It affects the elderly in such a devastating manner because sometimes it gets to the point where it occurs, at the point where they do not have their full mental capacity and you watch people, whether they're elderly or not, sometimes lose everything that they worked so hard for, and often at the hands of someone that they know or from a total stranger. That is hard to track Because some acts of domestic violence occur out of the country you know, and persons are scammed Because you know ultimately everybody wants, you know, ultimately everybody wants a good life, everybody wants a good home, the nicest things, and when you get an offer that sounds too good to be true although where I was told that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is Some people just go with it and end up losing everything. So it's a different area of work, but it often connects to the same type of violations on people. But I learned a lot working in an economic crime unit.
Speaker 1:And certainly going through over 20 years of service and in the various capacities that you've served, from on the beat, because on the beat and just going out and patrolling the patrol unit, patrolling the community and elevating and being involved in the different sectors you're now in charge of running operations over all divisions. So what is your vision? Things that you will implement or work on, areas that you see that may need some new direction or change. What is your vision may need?
Speaker 2:some new direction or change. What is your vision? My vision is to create a workplace for my officers that prioritizes their well-being. I want my officers to have a voice. I ensure that my staff and I are available. You know, keeping in the policy. We have a policy at the department that we have an open door policy, so we ensure that we keep that in mind. Ultimately, I lead by example.
Speaker 2:I take a lot of pride in what I do. I remember being told that when you write your police reports, remember it doesn't stop here in the Virgin Islands, because you know we're a small, we're small islands. Your report can make it to the Supreme Court, so write it as if somebody else in the Supreme Court is writing. So I take pride in what I write. I take pride in what I do and I take pride in how I look, and I want that for my police department. I do and I take credit how I look, and I want that for my police department. So I want to create a department that has a culture of accountability, transparency and, ultimately, of excellence. That is what I want to see for the VIPD.
Speaker 2:So I recently obtained a master's in forensic psychology, so my interest in trauma and its effects is big for me.
Speaker 2:So I would like one of my goals is to ensure that officers approach their interactions with that in mind, with a clear understanding of what trauma does to a person, so that we could promote healing, you know, not just make arrests, you know.
Speaker 2:Lock them up and forget about the healing part, because these very same people are going to be turned right back into our community. So I also want to combat issues such as violence, the distrust in the VIP that exists, the concerns for efficiency in solving crime, traffic enforcement, the quality of work, or lack thereof, that we produce, you know, and that includes things such as something as simple as us completing reports in a timely fashion, the way that we speak to people and this is big for me Our uniform, the way we carry ourselves, whether it's uniform, as in a police uniform, or a detective in their plain clothes, I think how we carry ourselves speaks volumes. So I want to create an environment where our officers are proud to wear their uniform and they put it on every day with pride, ensuring that every insignia, every button, everything is there appropriately, and I also would like to build better relationships with both public and private entities. That's pretty much my goal in a nutshell.
Speaker 1:That certainly it is a task and while you do lead, you don't carry the entire agency on your shoulders, but certainly there are your captains and lieutenants and sergeants and all the different divisions that report up to you as it relates to operations of the police department in your sector. And tell us about community, because I know that that is one of the things that we have throughout the I guess throughout the nation in terms of the United States and police relations within communities. Tell us about building that trust and being in the community and how do you purport to go about doing that in terms of the respect, the trust and working within the communities throughout the St Thomas, st John district.
Speaker 2:So, going back to the first part of your question, my team. So my team and I have to be on the same page for this to work and I most certainly can't do it without their help. So I have a deputy chief his name is Ryle Johnistorg and then I have my special assistant, jamal Fleming, and everybody else in the office, my admin assistant. I recognized almost immediately when I got in this position that I can't do it without them. So we lean on each other. We meet every morning, we meet and we talk about what's going to happen that day. At the end of the week we do the same thing. So it's kind of wrapping up what occurred, but it's a lot.
Speaker 2:When I initially took the position, one of the first things that we did was conducted assessments. We wanted the states of every area under our watch and we gave the captains, as you mentioned, an opportunity to give us the state of their area. One of the divisions of the police, commissioner, was to centralize the department and we brought that to fruition in the entire territory. So in the St Thomas, st John district, what we did is we had several zones and what we did is we moved everybody in a centralized location so we no longer have zone A and zone C. Everybody works out of central command, so everyone is together and in that we felt that it would first of all help with our numbers and it would also help with the supervision of the men. It's more concentrated and the officers would get to work in different areas. So we also plan to rotate officers throughout the different shifts and St John so that we remove that complacency and that helps the relationship with the community. So we want all of our officers to be familiar with the persons in the St Thomas District as well as the ones in the St John and Water Island District.
Speaker 2:As a matter of fact, I traveled to a town hall meeting that the members of the Water Island District had and it was very interesting to hear their concerns from a very small location.
Speaker 2:Travel to St John. We walked around. Our goal is to walk around, drive around, get to the different areas in the community, let people know who we are, you know, appear on platforms such as this and other places where they can hear our vision, our goal and we could collaborate, and sometimes in those settings they can tell us how they can help us and how we can also help them in whatever issues they may be encountering. So we want to form that relationship and for me, as someone who has not lived here all my life, I think it's imperative that I get out there, even though I've been here for the last eight years, but in this capacity, the relationships are going to have to be a little bit more close and intimate so that they can get to know who I am, and vice versa can get to know who I am and vice versa, so definitely involved in getting out in the community.
Speaker 1:And you mentioned a central command, so does that mean that the zones are no longer? How exactly does that work?
Speaker 2:So the officers work, they report to the central command and they're dispatched from there. So there is coverage in every area of the island, but it won't be the same person all the time. So you might come to work today and you may be told that you're going to go to this particular sector. For me, this type of work that's repetitive England that's repetitive. It breeds complacency, and complacency is not our friend, not in law enforcement. So we're removing that. There will always be an officer or officers in the different zones on island and because we're centralized, we're going to have more manpower at a time. So it's more coverage. So it's not like you're working centralized and you have to wait to be dispatched from a centralized area. You would already be in that area patrolling.
Speaker 1:Now you mentioned about being out in the community, so is there going to be more efforts as it relates to town meetings or meeting with community groups with different programs that perhaps maybe that the police may have? I don't know if there's perhaps maybe crime watch within the communities. What is the plan as it relates to meeting with the community and being able to hear from the community?
Speaker 2:So we began by appearing on several local radio stations. We've done that and we have several meetings set up for, like, for example, the Rotary schools, other afterschool programs we have, and it's kind of like a constant. There's always a request for some sort of presence, even if it's just to speak to children. So that's something that's always ongoing, but in our administration we're going to ensure that we continue doing those and make ourselves available for anyone who would like to meet with us. So I noticed that more recently there's been several town hall meetings being sponsored by different government agencies, and what we're trying to do is have a presence there. Whether it's my office or the commissioner's office, there's always someone representing the VIPD so that we can hear the concerns of the respective areas or communities as they relay them at those settings.
Speaker 1:And what is your advice now to anyone that may have an interest in public service, to be a police, whether it's that track or any or any any other, feel as you mentioned when it deals with serving the community and helping and assisting others in various capacities, whatever they may be. What is, what is your advice, and perhaps more so, for entering the field of public safety?
Speaker 2:Being a police officer or a public servant doesn't have to fit a mold. It's about having the heart to serve others. It's about having basically the courage to stand up for what's right and also having the strength to lead by example In a male-dominated field. You know, it's just that. But there's always room for trailblazers, there's always room for people that are passionate, hardworking and fearless, and that is my advice too. I think, as women, we create and that is my advice too. I think, as women, we create a balance that is very necessary, and my advice would be don't just think about it, don't just dream about it. Do it, train for it, fight for it and become the best that you can be. This capacity.
Speaker 1:And, at the end of the day, at the end of every shift, certainly it is about the safety of the officers and everyone returning home to their families. So that is so very important because that is, as you mentioned. Going into the field, you're dealing with a variety of different situations and it's, at the end of the day, being safe on the road and making sure that you protect, at the same time, those families or persons whoever may need that help, and then also returning home.
Speaker 2:What we least expect as officers is to not make it back home. Our goal and this has been ingrained in us from the day we began at the academy and the training is to ensure that we do what's right and we do what allows us to make it back home.
Speaker 1:And what is your word to the community that you serve, as it relates to the police department and being there for the community? What is your word to the community in those areas and persons perhaps that are, and have been victims of crime? What is your word to the community in those areas and persons perhaps that are, and have been victims of crime? What is your word to the community? I know that one of the things that has happened so often and we've seen it as it relates to whether it's domestic violence, gun violence, economic crimes, what is your word to the community?
Speaker 2:I just want the community to know that I am committed to serving with strength and, most definitely, compassion and, of utmost importance, integrity. And I say integrity because a lot of times, as a victim, you don't have trust in the process. You feel that you're ignored because there hasn't been enough communication or an update. That will be no longer. I am making sure that I'm available to them and I am making sure that the persons that work in those capacities are available to any victim or any family member of victims that we have encountered.
Speaker 2:I think sometimes they just want us to remember their family member. They want to be assured that we have not stopped investigating, that we have not stopped looking for the suspect or stopped trying to solve these crimes. But that's all they want. They want to hear from us, they want to have that open communication and they want to trust us. They want to trust that, if information is brought to us, that it remains there and not divulge where it's not supposed to be. Ultimately, they just want trust and they want us to do what is right, and I want them to know that I am available, I can be contacted and I also have an open door policy for them in that they can make an appointment and see me or they can call me. You know, sometimes you spend hours with family members and you allow them to just talk. They just want to be heard and that empathy is necessary for that relationship and it's also necessary to solve.
Speaker 1:Well, we say congratulations to you on breaking the glass ceiling. We know that you are celebrated within the US Virgin Islands community for breaking the glass ceiling and we understand that you're also part of a sisterhood, so tell us about that. I know that they are celebrating you as well.
Speaker 2:Yes, I am a member of Alpha Kappa, alpha Sorority Incorporated, where we provide service to all mankind, and that is part of my foundation and I'm just carrying out that legacy. But, in addition to being a member of Alpha Kappa, alpha Sorority Incorporated, I'm a mother, I'm a daughter, I'm a sister, and that is another family that I would be remated. I'm a mother, I'm a daughter, I'm a sister, and that is another family that I would be remiss if I didn't mention. I have five children, and throughout my entire career they made the ultimate sacrifice they did Because I remember my youngest son. I was on call for most of my career. When I came home, he would be sitting there waiting for me. I was on call through most of my career. When I came home, he would be sitting there waiting for me. So my children, they're who I live for and they too have made that sacrifice for me to be where I am today.
Speaker 2:And my mother, she was the first person to say to me never turn down training. I don't mind the cheering, that's what she said. I don't mind the cheering, just go. She said. I don't mind the cheering, just go, just go. And that's what started it. And I just kept going and going and she always reminded me, whatever is in your head, that knowledge they can't take from you. So I thank my family, my sorority sisters, my brothers and sisters in blue and everybody else who have been with me through this amazing journey and, finally, the words that you live by. So my favorite quote comes from the Bible, actually, and it says the Lord is my shepherd.
Speaker 1:I shall not want, and that's why I live by Amen. So certainly, certainly, we thank you and we say congratulations to you, police Chief Deborah Hodge of the US Virgin Islands Police Department, the first woman in the US territory to hold this position. It has been an honor and a pleasure to speak with you and we wish you well as you take charge of operations within the St Thomas, st John and Water Island District.
Speaker 2:Thank you, keisha Deborah Hodge. Chief of Police St Thomas, St John and Water Island District. Raj. Chief of Police St Thomas, st John, water Island District. The First Nines Police Department and I am the Pulse of the Caribbean.
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