RVIPF Relaunches Vital Community Policing Unit
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has officially relaunched its Community Policing Unit following comprehensive training for over 100 officers. The initiative was championed by Jacqueline Vanterpool in her final days as Acting Commissioner of Police to restore public trust across the Territory.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has officially relaunched its Community Policing Unit (CPU), marking a renewed commitment to citizen-centred law enforcement and rebuilding public trust across the Virgin Islands. The formal announcement was made on Monday, November 17, 2025, by Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool.
The relaunch represents a major operational milestone for the force, standing as one of the primary initiatives spearheaded by Vanterpool during her leadership tenure. Effective November 18, 2025, Vanterpool transitions back to her substantive role as Deputy Commissioner of Police under constitutional decisions made by Governor Daniel Pruce.
Addressing the force and the public, Vanterpool emphasised that effective policing cannot function in isolation and depends entirely on strong, trust-based partnerships with the community. She noted that supporting the unit is a collective duty shared across all ranks, rather than the responsibility of a single division.
Every officer, regardless of assignment, has a role to play, Vanterpool stated, underscoring that community policing is an overarching philosophy rooted in teamwork, communication, empathy, and high professional standards. For decades, community-oriented policing has been a hallmark of the RVIPF and was formally integrated into its strategic priorities in 2012.
However, the force acknowledged that the initiative had experienced a decline in momentum in recent years. In response, Vanterpool made restoring and reinforcing genuine community engagement one of her core priorities during her first 100 days as Acting Commissioner. To ensure the unit's long-term effectiveness, the RVIPF executed an intensive training programme that began in August 2025.
Delivered over six weeks by Trinidad and Tobago-based firm Officium Training Limited, the programme provided specialised instruction to 112 officers. Among them, 22 officers successfully completed a Train-the-Trainer component, equipping them to mentor colleagues and sustain the community policing framework across the Territory.
With fully trained personnel now prepared to lead the CPU's mandate, the RVIPF aims to foster deeper ties within local neighbourhoods, proactively resolve safety concerns, and reinforce public confidence in law enforcement.
Primary source: VINO