Gov threatens disciplinary action against top cop
Office of the Governor Governor Daniel Pruce has warned Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool that he will initiate disciplinary proceedings if she does not correct a message she sen...
Office of the Governor Governor Daniel Pruce has warned Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool that he will initiate disciplinary proceedings if she does not correct a message she sent about the police vetting programme, according to a letter published by the BVI Beacon.
In a September 15 letter to Vanterpool, Governor Pruce stated that a High Court order issued on August 11 had paused only the enforcement aspects of the new vetting rules, not the vetting process itself. “The Court’s Order of 11 August 2025, as confirmed by the Attorney General, suspended only the enforcement provisions of the vetting regulations,” he wrote.
Governor Pruce said Vanterpool told Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) officers on August 22 that the entire vetting process had stopped. He said that was inaccurate. “The vetting process itself remains ongoing, and officers may continue to submit forms and obtain clearance,” he wrote, adding that she had incorrectly stated “that the entire vetting process had been suspended.” The governor also noted that Vanterpool admitted she sent her message without first seeking advice from the Attorney General or consulting him, even though he was in the territory at the time. “For the avoidance of doubt, you are required to comply with the legal advice of the Attorney General, the government’s principal legal adviser and counsel in this matter,” he stated.
In an email dated September 9, Vanterpool reaffirmed her position and said she intended to seek independent legal advice on the issue.
Primary source: BVI News