Selection process for new CoP will be ‘rigorous’- Governor Pruce
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This was announced by Governor Daniel Pruce on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, following the publication of the report on the law enforcement review conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
“Now that we have received Volume Two, I will relaunch the recruitment campaign for the Commissioner of Police very soon.”
According to the governor, “This will be a rigorous selection process based on a new person specification, updated in line with the recommendations in this report.
“We will be looking for a leader who can deliver transformational change in a complex organisation.”
Shifting of the goalpost
In what was labelled as a surprising and concerning move, Governor Pruce decided to suspend the recruitment process for a new Commissioner of Police (CoP) in the Virgin Islands in late October 2024.
Seeking to justify this unusual move, Govenor Pruce said the security challenges facing the Virgin Islands were becoming more complex. He said the first volume of the law enforcement review, conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services, featured 138 recommendations. "Many of those fell to the RVIPF. The police have been making good progress in implementing them, but much work remains to be done.
"The second volume due in a few months will add to that. I expect a large number of more fundamental recommendations. These will shape the future of the RVIPF for years to come," Mr Pruce said back in October.
Many, including officers of the RVIPF, viewed this "shifting of the goalpost" as a death knell for locals who had applied for the post, even though the governor claimed that candidates who applied for the original role are not disqualified from the new process.
While there are many local deemed qualified to lead the RVIPF, the public has been calling for the Acting Commissioner of Police and local, Jacqueline E. Vanterpool, to be confirmed.
Vanterpool doing a ‘fantastic job’ as CoP!
There has been a notable uptick in arrests and firearm and ammunition seizures since Ms Vanterpool has been at the helm in her acting capacity.
Further, Vanterpool is deemed as having a good rapport with the community, which many believe is necessary for the rebuilding of public trust in the RVIPF.
Governor Pruce told a talk show host on January 27, 2025, that he was working closely with Vanterpool, who was doing a “fantastic job”.
“I have every confidence that she will manage and lead the police through this transition very successfully,” he said continuing, “In any big organisation when you have change at the top, it has an impact on the organisation, so that’s an additional challenge,” Governor Pruce said on Talking Points.
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17 Responses to “Selection process for new CoP will be ‘rigorous’- Governor Pruce”
What he is really saying is, "Now that we have painted all local black people as criminals, we have muddied the waters enough to push for a UK National to be next Commissioner which is what we wanted all along!".....
Why BVIslanders cannot see what is transpiring right before our eyes is beyond mind-boggling!!!! So all persons coming from the UK are angels? The UK does not have corruption? So let's change all posts to UK Nationals and problem solved? If this were tru wouldn't the UK be an example to follow? Are they? We are so easily bamboozled!
The Governor playing the system. And he entire BVI is quiet going to rum shops talking sh**.. That office does not think much of the people of the BVI.