Was Vanterpool’s demotion linked to new police vetting process?
Several sections of the public now believe that Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool’s demotion was directly linked to her handling of the controversial police vetting process. This suspicion has intensified following the release of a September 15 letter from Governor Daniel Pruce sharply criticising her actions.
In the letter, Governor Pruce accused Vanterpool of misleading members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) by announcing that the vetting process had been suspended, when in fact only the enforcement provisions were temporarily paused under a court order.
He wrote that she had acted without consulting him or the Attorney General, despite his being in the territory at the time.
“You had issued a message to RVIPF officers incorrectly stating that the entire vetting process had been suspended and encouraging officers not to submit further forms,” the Governor wrote. He warned Vanterpool that if she failed to issue a corrective message “no later than midday on 19 September 2025,” disciplinary proceedings would follow.
The letter, which became a topic of discussion after Governor Pruce announced that Vanterpool would return to her substantive post as Deputy Commissioner effective November 18, has fuelled public belief that her removal was a direct consequence of what the Governor viewed as defiance over the vetting process.
The vetting initiative — introduced under the Police (Amendment) Regulations 2025 — requires officers to disclose personal, financial, and association information. The measure stems from the Commission of Inquiry reforms aimed at strengthening accountability in law enforcement. However, it has faced strong resistance from officers and the Police Welfare Association, which challenged it in court as unconstitutional and “overly intrusive.”
A court order had suspended only the penalties for non-compliance but did not halt the process itself.
Vanterpool’s August 22 message to officers – advising them not to submit further forms – directly contradicted the Governor’s public position that the vetting exercise was ongoing. Her insistence on seeking “independent legal advice” rather than following the Attorney General’s guidance appeared to deepen tensions between her office and the Governor.
Though Governor Pruce has avoided directly linking Vanterpool’s demotion to the vetting dispute, his explanation on this week’s Talking Points radio show did little to quiet speculation. He said the decision was based on his constitutional duty to ensure the “efficient administration” of the police force and the security of the territory.
“In any organisation, especially one as complex and operating in such a difficult environment as the RVIPF, a long period of acting leadership has an impact on the resilience of that organisation,” Pruce said. He added that Vanterpool had been in the acting role for over a year – longer than expected – and that appointing an interim commissioner funded by the United Kingdom would help stabilise the senior leadership and ease budget pressures.
The Governor described his decision as “carefully weighed and considered,” praising Vanterpool’s “long and distinguished career” and her service to the territory. But many residents have dismissed that explanation, pointing to the timing of the letter and the demotion as evidence that the vetting controversy was the real catalyst for her removal.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
I knew that was why she was removed..Everyone seemed to forget this incident. She was literally working against her boss?…How many bosses would tolerate that? Local or not? Plus she was acting.. Now the Uk is funding the new ones salary so It’s taking nothing from the BVI… So let’s wait and see who lands the position permanently.
She was Acting Commissioner and returned to her post. She was not demoted.
What is all this made up nonsense.
We go to the media for information and facts not more propaganda.
i came here to type the exact thing you said. She was reverted to her substantive post. she was NOT demoted. They like propaganda to push their nonsense. Government does this all the time. people get acting positions for a period and return to their positions when a suitable candidate is found, sometimes the very person can apply and get the position. All in all, she was not demoted.
These 2 cent elected ignoramus scheming defying criminal enterprisers are a distraction to good governance and policing. Their alliance with cartel ,it’s operations and members takes precedence to good governance for the people. Nauseating set of lowlifes.
Jackie in The middle ,no cohones to do the right thing, a total and telling disappointment .
.can’t wait to see the US defense and corrective boats and planes enter our waters and air space in retaliation and defense of the BVI unapologetic permissive open borders aiding the transport of illegals and illegalities into the US territories and mainland which includes “escaped” homicidal drug enforcers and assassinators. Bye bye Tourism!
Bye bye tourism.
Based on her actions she deserves to be FIRED!!!!!
@ Fire She. What were her actions? The Governor should be fired. He was issuing her illegal directives after a Judges injunction was issued against vetting.
Insubordination !!!!!!
In a hole of unabated corruption and intimidation,you are not familiar with the unlawful act…Results are, among other…unidentified and identified 3 digit murders in a country of 40 thousand plus. Loyalty and follow the law of the corrupt are the norm….in keeping with the CARICOM dust heaps and septic holes that sum ah we are wanting and demanding to join.
I wonder if she knows where the recent escaped murderers and hired assassins are ,where and how they arrived.? Considering the crime uptick in these VI. insubordination to law and order methodology as directed but in obedience to the elected thieves and drug partners is a… Major redflag.
If big positions were giving out because people born here, the whole place would be in chaos!!
If the court issued an injunction against the vetting the governor said she violated then what is the governor in directing her to go against a court order? Some body full of $hit here.
Did you even read this article before spouting your BS? The “Court order had suspended only the penalties for non-compliance but did not halt the process itself.”
Our destinies muust be decided by us,, Virgin Islanders, not imperial inheritors.
People really need to stop embarrassing themselves and the country.
Security vetting for law enforcement is standard practice around the world. Only those with something to hide, or their own motives, would be against it.
Let’s be clear:
The court did not stop vetting. It only paused the penalties while the legal challenge continues. The vetting itself was still supposed to continue. The controversy arose when officers were told to stop submitting forms altogether, which was not what the court ordered. That is what triggered the corrective response.
We also know how things go here — anybody can rush to court and get something stamped. It happens all the time. That doesn’t automatically make it right or in the best interest of the country.
And another thing: people demanding public explanations about internal performance issues need to understand how professional organisations work. It is not appropriate for a manager — including the Governor — to broadcast personnel matters to the whole world.
That is handled privately between employer and employee. This obsession with airing everything in public is chaotic and damaging.
Some of you need to stop washing your dirty laundry outside and then wondering why the whole neighbourhood talking.
In the meantime, we still have a responsibility to maintain standards, protect the public, and ensure integrity in the police force. You can’t call for “law and order” one day and then fight against the safeguards that ensure exactly that.
If your hands clean, your hands clean. Accountability cannot pause simply because one or two don’t like being held to it.
She was not demoted. She was returned to her substantive post.
How does one get demoted from a post they were never confirmed in? If I get this right, she was ACTING Commissioner of Police, which means her substantive post IS Deputy Commissioner of Police.
We expect balanced reporting from the media. Please get your facts straight!
Waddling in mediocrity and jumping on the bandwagon will be your demise.
I am convinced that this subject of the topic is an enemy of these VI in the pattern of former Andrew Fahie…with the love filled support and benevolence of elected members and community..blink blink..make no waves, simply enable the goings on,the assassins arrival/ departures,walkng working with prison escapees of the worse crimes…and then the stupidity or more likely,the bragadoouch firmly and publicly announcing within a few days of escape ,Madam Prison Official announces with her own mouth,”I know for a fact he / they are no longer on the island”.haha…sounds first hand personal knowledge… involvement to me….
Like our internationaly disgraced former Premier this P
“Pool” is danger and deceit and yep including supporters,they share those too. Same mindset!