Vanterpool confident she can effectively lead RVIPF
Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool says she is prepared and confident to lead the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) as its substantive head, after nearly six months in the acting role.
Speaking recently on JTV, Vanterpool described her journey to the top post, recalling her early dreams of becoming a police officer and the many personal and professional challenges she has overcome throughout her career. She confirmed her long-standing ambition to become the territory’s first female Commissioner of Police.
As of now, Vanterpool has not reapplied for the post but said she is awaiting divine guidance. “As the Lord leads, he will lead me and guide me. I will take his instructions as he gives them to me,” she said.
“My head is saying to me, this has been your passion. This has been your goal. Go for it,” Vanterpool stated.
The Commissioner role was recently re-advertised following an earlier recruitment round that was cancelled. Vanterpool said she had been scheduled for an interview before the process was abruptly halted.
Vanterpool said she was disappointed after the process was halted previously. “I was a bit disappointed, yes. Frustrated? No. But disappointed because you had an air of expectancy to be interviewed for the process and then it was cancelled,” she explained.
During her time as Acting Commissioner, Vanterpool led the force through a period marked by a surge in serious crimes, including armed robberies and firearm-related offences. She said the RVIPF recorded several successes under her leadership.
“If you look at January to March, we were able to seize nine firearms… and four of them are prohibited firearms. We got 378 rounds of ammunition,” she reported.
Vanterpool also pointed to the improved detection rate. “It’s now back up to 50 percent, which is our mandate,” she said, attributing this to “aggressive policing” and the dedication of frontline officers.
Despite the challenges of leading without a full command team at times, she insisted she remained focused and prayerful. “We just need to be given an opportunity to continue doing the work that we have started,” Vanterpool asserted.
Asked directly if she is capable of handling the full scope of the Commissioner’s duties, including strategic planning and external relations, Vanterpool replied confidently.
“I firmly believe… myself and my command team are in a much better position right now to run RVIPF. We can. I know we can,” she stated.
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Hmmm, after the Good Friday debacle with her police force shutting businesses down. I wonder whether any part of this Government can function, regardless of how good the candidate is?
This is not a Territory that abides by the laws established. The elected and ‘appointed’ representatives of this Territory interpret the laws in different ways so long as it suits the agenda of the day, as well as establishing policies that have no relation to the law but are enforced more for their own purpose or vindictive cause, than that of what should be for the general good and progress of our society!
Sounds good. A committment to get the crazy scooter riders off the roads, close the illegal strip clubs, stop the illegal gambling and animal fights would be great.
Ms. Vanterpool please go rest yourself. You are not effective enough to run this police force. First Until youmake some changes with some of your heads you are in big trouble. Jamdown woman most go. She’s who’s the dictator. Stop listen to them, listen to Jacky get rid of the naysayers they are setting you up to fail. Pay about it Jacky and move on to your retirement. You listening to the wrong set of people who are setting you to fail. We still love you
and what we got?
So no chance if you did not apply.
You can do anything through Jesus da Christ. Past commissioners, every last one of them left the force worst than how they met it and ran of with their fat gratuity and the VI suffer accordingly.
Unfortunately, due to the UK’s entitlement and neocolonial policy claims to this territory, which is plain as day and evident in the current papers by the Gov. Pruce, to take over the main pillars of the Virgin Islands security, Police, customs, Finance and others, is a direct indication of imposing direct rule upon the people of the Virgin Islands, which is neither right, politically correct, democratic or politically correct 21st century governance.
Hence, it is crystal clear that the UK does not want nor will it give the position of COP to neither a woman, a Black woman or Black local, qualified or not. It will employ every possible trick including the processes that have been playing out so far around that position, to include adding on ridiculous articles of position requirement simply to put the position out of the hands of a qualified local and into those of a UK expatriate. Those are the facts. That is not democracy, which is neocolonialism at its best.
Therefore, our leaders and right-minded people must stand up, get their heads out of the sand, and act against such obvious colonial abuse of the 12th to 20th centuries.
Indeed, local leaders and the populace must demand and act to ensure that the practice of neocolonialism be done away with in this territory, and that fairness, rightness and justice prevail in the country.
As, colonialism and neocolonialism should not be the yard sticks by which this country is governed.
We are all humans and grown folk. We should be able to do for our self; lead our self and make our own decisions for ourselves, whether it is relative to the COP or garbage collector’s job.
We are a free and thinking people and so we must live as such.