Top cop debunks dissent narrative among RVIPF ranks
Police Commissioner Mark Collins poured cold water over the narrative that there is widespread discontent among ranks within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
In an appearance on the Cut Deep talk show with Cindy Rosan, Collins addressed a petition condemning his leadership, stating that only a few officers who signed it were aware of its true purpose.
Collins described the petition, which had been widely reported in the media, as being driven by a ‘disgruntled few’.
“I think they were asked to sign a petition. They weren’t furnished with any information about what the petition was about,” Collins stated. “They were just told we’re collecting signatures for this, this and this.”
He revealed that the petition contained only 28 signatures, some of which were illegible. He further explained that two signatories were suspended officers, two were disgruntled over promotions, and several others had been misled about the petition’s intent.
“A number of officers actually came to my deputy and said they’ve been hoodwinked into signing the form on the basis that they thought they were signing for working conditions due to mould at the police stations,” Collins added. “And others came forward and said they thought they were signing the petition about better working conditions and allowances through the Police Welfare Association.”
When questioned about the ongoing investigation into the petition, Collins stated that he was not involved due to it being a professional standards matter handled by Deputy Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool.
The petition, signed by concerned officers within the RVIPF, called for Collins’ dismissal, citing several allegations ranging from misconduct to abuse of power. It was submitted to the then-Governor John Rankin in December 2023.
Despite the petition and ongoing investigation, Collins remains optimistic, noting that he will continue to serve in the post until his replacement joins the RVIPF in December.
“I’ve maintained I’m happy to stay here while that process takes place. That’s important for the continuity of the business and the force and I think it comes at a time where a fresh pair of eyes is good, someone fresh to come in and pick up,” Collins said.
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there is obviously someone going terribly wrong in the ranks of The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force for many past decades and now into the future.
so police officers sign documents without reading them or otherwise satisfying themselves as to what the document says.
It does not inspire me with confidence in the police.
When you have a just concluded inspector promotion process and most of the persons who came top in that process was not promoted there must me discontents, persons who came last and one before the last and persons who failed the exam and was still allowed to progress to the next stage, violating their own promotion policy, when those persons are promoted and the persons who top the process was left out, there must be a problem. The same happened for the chief inspector process, persons who failed outright were promoted over persons who top the process, what result they expect from those aggrieved persons.
Please try and get some sort of mental health care for your staff cause it’s disturbing to know the d***** was or is suicidal……send help, we really in trouble here in the BVI if our officers are not mentally strong but fighting to be top cop SMFH
They cannot solve the majority of murders. So, what on earth are they doing?
Maybe people should arm themselves indeed!
Now tell me, you’re the deputy commissioner of police, quite sure you’re hopping to be the first female commissioner in the history of the rvipf, although we know this will only happen if hell freezes over, why the hell would you go in the public domain and mentioned that you attempted suicide 3 times, jackie jackie jackie?
There is a simple fix for this, be transparent, be fair remove the square pegs in the round holes and adhere to your policies, get rid of these weak dorm @$$ so call senior officers who is not even equivalent to a boy scout.
Yall keep bawlin about wanting locals to fill the posts in the force, but how often do you see the big tall one out in the community interacting with the public or when last have you heard her reach out to the public about information regarding unsolved murders??? You are local and live HERE…
but what exactly are you doing to help crack down on crime other than waste time on fb commenting and posting horse urine??
You ga be an expat haul yo ms go gack where yo come from ayo can’t work in ayo own but want rise the top in someone else country pity
I didn’t know police does tell so much lie..skrist
All you bloggers who blogging in negativity, you all are such sore losers. Did you all take time out to listen to the lady interview? Why VIN* choose to only post the negative side of the lady interview? The interview is all about before she entered the force and you all just want to be blasting for nothing. I give her credit to speaking her story. She probably said a little too much but I guess she felt comfortable relating her story so that others can help. I was really blessed by her interview so I ain’t minding the noise.
Don’t talk a out your mamma like that
if them hiring all the criminal especially those from vincy what u expect. the police force gone to the dogs they hiring any and everybody sad . everyone running in the force not to pay permit they dont care one bit about the bvi.
A fisherman never says his fish stink. Truth live far from these people.
“I think they were asked to sign a petition. They weren’t furnished with any information about what the petition was about,” Collins stated. “They were just told we’re collecting signatures for this, this and this.”
Read between the lines, they dont care what it was about… they are against your authority either way one way or another so they rush to sign before even know the details by his own admission wow.
& for a top cop to not be constantly calling for local police officers, aligning law with society, and training the youth to fill those positions is just sad. Iv seen with me own eyes forgien officers here misbehaving breaking big laws. Who we going complain to the police? shameful