Governor threatens disciplinary action against Acting CoP
According to reports reaching our News Centre, Governor Pruce has written to the Acting Police Commissioner, accusing her of incorrectly telling police officers that the entire vetting process had ...
According to reports reaching our News Centre, Governor Pruce has written to the Acting Police Commissioner, accusing her of incorrectly telling police officers that the entire vetting process had been suspended and that she also encouraged officers not to submit further forms for the process.
Reports are that the governor has given the Acting Commissioner an ultimatum of midday, Friday, September 19, 2025, to 'correct' this information given to officers and has threatened disciplinary proceedings if there is non-compliance. The injunction, issued on August 11, 2025, by Acting Justice Akilah Anderson, and reissued August 25, 2025, prevents the Commissioner of Police, the Police Service Commission or any agents from initiating disciplinary or criminal proceedings against current members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and Auxiliary Force for failing to comply with specific vetting requirements.
These include submitting prescribed vetting forms, third-party consent forms for financial disclosures, and written updates on changes to previously submitted information. The temporary halt to certain provisions of the Police (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, came following a legal challenge by Sean A.
McCall, Chairman of the Police Welfare Association (PWA), against Governor Daniel Pruce. Gov Pruce forges ahead According to the Governor, in his threatening letter to Ms Vanterpool, the court order suspended only the enforcement provisions of the vetting regulations. He said the vetting process itself remains ongoing, and officers may continue to submit forms and obtain clearance.
This was also confirmed publicly by the Governor in a press conference on August 26, 2025. Governor Pruce reportedly told the Acting Commissioner that it had come to his attention that on August 22, 2025, she issued a message to RVIPF officers incorrectly stating that the entire vetting process had been suspended and encouraging officers not to submit further forms.
He also claimed that the Acting Commissioner acknowledged in a meeting on September 8, 2025, that she issued the message without seeking advice from the Attorney General or consulting him, despite him being in the Territory at the time. Threat of disciplinary action The Governor also claimed that he had asked Ms Vanterpool to correct her message to align with the terms of his press conference and the advice of the Attorney General; however, Ms Vanterpool maintained her position and indicated her intention to seek independent legal advice. “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.
The purpose of this letter is to instruct you to issue a corrective message to all RVIPF officers consistent with the advice of the Attorney General and in terms agreed with me, no later than midday on 19 September 2025. If you fail to do so, I will commence disciplinary proceedings,” Governor Pruce reportedly told the Acting Commissioner in his letter dated September 15, 2025. ‘Vetting must be done’ but… Acting Commissioner of Police Ms Jacqueline E.
Vanterpool, in an interview with JTV Channel 55 on May 9, 2025, said the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) fully supports vetting of its officers and that “it must be done.” She added, however, that while it is a pivotal step for the RVIPF, officers are not “at a place of comfort” when it comes to the process. “As I said, we have no problem with it, but the vetting form, it is very intrusive, very intrusive, in terms of the information that we have to disseminate on the form that is being asked.” This online news site is the sole property of and is operated by Advance Marketing and Professional Services dba Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) in the Virgin Islands.
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