Hundreds of thousands of dollars of police equipment were destroyed in a Monday morning fire in Sion Farm.

Police said the fire, which they describe as suspicious, broke out at 3:43 a.m. in an emergency communications vehicle, which was parked overnight at a Police Department employee's residence, according to a statement released Monday.

"It was authorized to be there that night. It was being utilized," Police spokeswoman Melody Rames said in a interview.

The user of the communications vehicle noticed a strong odor of smoke and saw flames at the front of the vehicle. Police and V.I. Fire Service were notified and efforts were made to contain the fire, according to the statement.

However, the vehicle, which Rames said was provided to the department by the Department of Homeland Security and has been in active service for four years, was destroyed. Rames estimated cost vehicle and equipment at $225,000.

The emergency communications vehicle, which was outfitted with satellite telephones, wireless cameras and other communications devices, is used to integrate the radio frequencies of law enforcement agencies allowing them to communicate when a breakdown arises such as in a natural disaster. The vehicle had the capability to link to the department's St. Thomas-St. John District communications system with St. Croix, Rames said.

Police Commissioner Novelle Francis said in the statement the destroyed vehicle was covered by insurance and will be replaced with even better technology.

"I want to assure the community this will not deter us from our mission, rather it will strengthen our resolve to rid the community of those whose purpose in life is to take from others and erode the quality of the lives of our people," he said.

Police and Fire Service are investigating the cause of the fire.