The Daily News Of The Virgin Islands

Policewoman: Crime Fighter,
Foster Mother and Nurse Too

When Mrs. Mariel Newton goes off to work in the morning, she might, if she chooses, strap on a .38 police special revolver.

Mrs. Newton is the only policewoman on the St. Thomas police force.

She joined the force 14 years ago. She is the first policewoman we have ever had on the island.

Mrs. Newton who is always smiling seems almost too kind and motherly to be a policewoman.

"Actually," she says, "I got into police work because of my interest in children."

Mrs. Newton's first job as a policewoman involved work in the Juvenile Aid Bureau.
She was placed in charge of the program.

Under Earle H. Charles, former director, Mrs. Newton studied on her own time to learn all she could about juvenile delinquency. She took a number of correspondence courses and attended all seminars and lectures that were given on the subject.

She also attended the White House Conference on Youth.

Working closely with the Youth Commission, she helped implement programs designed to give young people something to do.

Mrs. Newton's work with juveniles made it necessary to have frequent contact with the nemesis of all school children, the truant officer. However, she and the truant officer tried not to act like watchdogs over the children.

"If a child didn't want to go to school, we would try to find out why."

Mrs. Newton decided to join the force after she spent a vacation in New York. She said she became acquainted with a policewoman there and was so fascinated by the work that she wanted to become one too.

When she learned that St. Thomas was looking for a policewoman, she was the first to apply for the position. She wasn't the only one.

After passing a rigid series of mental and physical examinations, Mrs. Newton joined the force on a full time basis.

In addition to her work in the juvenile field, Mrs. Newton had to serve as a guardian at dances around town.

Though Mrs. Newton has been trained in all kinds of police methods of handling rowdies, she doesn't look like the type who would like to use force. Actually, she has never had to use force on anyone.

"I've found that it's a lot easier to get people to do things if you just have a little patience with them," she said. "I remember one time a fellow tried to crash a formal dance.
He was wearing a shirt open at the collar, and carrying a drink in his hand. The doorman pushed him out of the way and a fight almost started. I went over and managed to calm the fellow down. I simply told him that of course he would be welcomed if he went home and put on a tie."

He left and didn't return.

Mrs. Newton was transferred to the Traffic Bureau after her stint with the Juvenile Bureau.

In the traffic department, she gained a lot of clerical experience, working on records and making deposits. She remained with the bureau for a few years.

While she was working in this department she managed to organize and run the Police Athletic League "which proved highly successful".

She managed, somehow, to find time to teach girls how to sew and make little household ornaments.

At the same time, she managed to keep up with her other activities in the juvenile field.

Many shopkeepers around town recall when Mrs. Newton would come into their stores with a child who needed a pair of shoes.

With her winning smile and determination, she would always manage to get some shopowner to donate a pair of shoes.

At present, Mrs. Newton works in the Bureau of Investigation.

There she takes fingerprints, receives and analyzes criminal reports and maintains the criminal files.

She is still involved in juvenile cases. In these cases, Mrs. Newton always tries to find out just what the problem is and then refers the case to the proper department.

If, for example, there seems to be a financial problem at home, she might refer the case to the Department of Welfare.

Mrs. Newton said she feels that there should be more programs on the island designed to take care of the recreational and vocational needs of young people.