RVIPF relaunches Community Policing Unit

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) formally relaunched its Community Policing Unit (CPU) on November 17.

In what may be seen as a final act of Jacqueline Vanterpool as Acting Commissioner of Police, the RVIPF said in a press release that the relaunch forms part of “a renewed public trust initiative”.

“Every officer, regardless of assignment, has a role to play,” Vanterpool said. “Our success depends on teamwork, communication, professionalism, and empathy. Community policing is not merely a unit; it is a philosophy.”

She noted that the newly relaunched CPU will officially assume duties on November 24.

The RVIPF stated that, for decades, community policing has been a defining hallmark of the RVIPF, “anchored in the belief that strong police-community partnerships are essential to effective service”. It noted, however, that the model “experienced a decline in momentum in recent years”.

To rebuild the model, a robust training programme began on August 11 and ran for six weeks under the guidance of Officium Training Limited of Trinidad & Tobago. According to the release, “A total of 112 officers were trained, including 22 officers who completed the Train-the-Trainer component.”

The relaunch features a core team of Community Policing Unit officers, including Ag Insp Sherryann Lavia-Lennon, Sgt Sean McCall, PC Zamfir Adams, WPC Reba Rogers, WPC Natoya Marks, WPC Dannaiff Charles, PC Mandel Jimmy, PC Larry Larocque, and WPC Kejahana Stephens, as listed in the release.

After a four-year hiatus, the RVIPF reintroduced community policing in June 2021 with 16 officers. Commentators have called on the government and law-enforcement agencies to adopt a multi-sector crime-reduction strategy that emphasises community engagement over mere enforcement.

The latest relaunch seeks to strengthen policing strategies that reflect local community concerns, improve relationships, and enhance trust. The CPU is expected to focus on “strengthening relationships within communities; collaboratively addressing local concerns; and ensuring policing strategies reflect the needs and priorities of residents”.