Police Constable Interdicted After Firearm-Related Domestic Incident
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) says a serving Police Constable was arrested for questioning and interdicted from duty after a firearm-related domestic report received on Tuesday, May 26. The officer has not been charged and his identity is being withheld while investigations continue; the force says further updates will be provided as necessary.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has confirmed that a serving Police Constable was arrested for questioning and has been interdicted from duty while inquiries continue into a firearm-related domestic report, the force said in a statement reported by BVI News and relayed earlier by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).
According to BVI News, the RVIPF received the report on Tuesday, May 26, and announced on Thursday that the matter was under investigation. As part of those inquiries, the officer was arrested for questioning and has since been interdicted pending the outcome of the probe. The RVIPF has said the officer has not been charged and, as a result, his identity is being withheld (BVI News).
The force’s initial brief statement relayed by VINO noted that a firearm was involved in the incident but did not specify whether the weapon was discharged. BVI News also reported that the RVIPF did not disclose further details about the circumstances or whether any injuries were sustained.
The force has asked anyone with information relevant to the matter to come forward to assist investigators (VINO; BVI News). Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool reiterated the RVIPF’s commitment to thoroughly investigate allegations involving members of the service and to pursue prosecution where warranted.
That assurance appears in both the VINO account of the release and the BVI News report, which quoted the force’s statement on its commitment to investigate malfeasance by members of the police or other public servants. Interdiction is an administrative measure that temporarily removes an officer from active duty while allegations are examined.
As previously explained by VINO, specifics of an interdiction — including whether an officer remains on full pay or is suspended without pay — depend on internal policies and the outcomes of disciplinary or criminal proceedings. The RVIPF has not disclosed which unit is leading the administrative inquiry; it is common for internal professional standards or internal affairs teams to lead such probes and for prosecutors to be engaged should criminal conduct be suspected (VINO).
BVI News placed the development in the wider context of ongoing challenges the force has highlighted, noting the RVIPF’s 2025 Year in Review which reported a rise in domestic violence incidents and continued concerns about illegal firearms. Acting Deputy Commissioner Kenrick Davis told the force’s year-in-review that crime levels stabilised during 2025 despite those concerns (BVI News).
For residents of the British Virgin Islands, any incident involving firearms and members of the police raises understandable concerns about officer conduct and public safety. The RVIPF has reminded the public of the importance of due process, emphasizing presumption of innocence and fair treatment while investigations continue.
The force says it will provide additional information when appropriate and further updates will be released as necessary (VINO; BVI News). This matter remains under active investigation. Local media reports and the RVIPF statement are the primary sources for the facts reported so far; BVI Live will continue to monitor the situation and publish updates as new, verified information becomes available.
Primary source: VINO