RVIPF Relaunches Community Policing Unit
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has officially relaunched its Community Policing Unit as part of a renewed drive to rebuild public trust, Acting Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool announced on Monday 17 November. The move follows a six-week training programme that prepared 112 officers — including 22 train-the-trainer graduates — and the unit will take up duties on Monday 24 November 2025.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has formally relaunched its Community Policing Unit (CPU), reinforcing a long-standing commitment to citizen-centred policing and renewed efforts to rebuild public trust. Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool announced the relaunch on Monday 17 November, saying a deliberate return to community engagement is central to effective policing in the Territory.
Community policing has been a defining feature of the Force for decades and has been embedded in RVIPF strategic priorities since 2012. Vanterpool told staff that recent years saw a loss of momentum in this approach and that restoring trust requires a clear, coordinated effort across the entire organisation. "Every officer, regardless of assignment, has a role to play," she said, stressing that community policing is a philosophy as much as a unit.
In her first 100 days as Acting Commissioner, Vanterpool made the revitalisation of community policing a priority. That commitment led to a robust training programme delivered by Officium Training Limited of Trinidad & Tobago which began on 11 August 2025 and ran for six weeks. A total of 112 officers completed the training, 22 of whom finished the Train-the-Trainer component and are now qualified to support the CPU’s ongoing work and capacity building.
The newly formed Community Policing Unit will lead engagement efforts across the islands with a mandate to: strengthen relationships within communities; collaboratively address local concerns; and ensure policing strategies reflect the needs and priorities of residents. The RVIPF says the unit will act as a focal point for neighbourhood-level problem solving and for building sustained partnerships with community groups and residents.
Core members of the relaunched Community Policing Unit are: Ag. Sean McCall PC Zamfir Adams WPC Reba Rogers WPC Natoya Marks WPC Dannaiff Charles PC Mandel Jimmy PC Larry Larocque WPC Kejahana Stephens The CPU will officially take up duties on Monday, 24 November 2025. For BVI residents, the relaunch signals an emphasis on communication, professionalism and local engagement — and invites communities to work with the Force to identify priorities and solutions.
The RVIPF has asked all officers to apply the community policing principles learned in training and encouraged residents to engage with their neighbourhood officers as the unit begins its work.
Primary source: Guavaberry