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UPDATE - Police Commissioner Frazer announces his retirement

- DCP David Morris expected to act as Commissioner
Commissioner of Police Reynell Frazer is expected to retire in the coming months, as his vacation will reportedly start in April 2012 which is the start of his pre-retirement leave. His tenure as Police Commissioner has been mixed.
David Morris is expected to act as Police Commissioner, however, its unclear, if the post will be advertised or Morris, a UK Officer will be anointed Commissioner.
David Morris is expected to act as Police Commissioner, however, its unclear, if the post will be advertised or Morris, a UK Officer will be anointed Commissioner.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Commissioner of Police Reynell Frazer has officially announced that he will begin pre-retirement leave on April 1, 2012 after serving 38 years in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.

This news agency was first to break the news on February 21, 2012 that Frazer was going to retire. The Top Cop, who is only the second local Commissioner of Police, made the announcement today March 28, 2012.

In a radio and television statement, Frazer thanked the Government of the Virgin Islands for the opportunity to serve and the wise counsel, advice and mentorship given by his predecessors, past and present colleagues as well as the rank and file of the Police Force.

The Commissioner, who started out his public service career as a school teacher, rose through the ranks of the Police Force to become the top cop. The first local Police Commissioner was former Legislator and Attorney Vernon E. Malone.

Tenure as Police Commissioner mixed

Frazer’s tenure as Police Commissioner is mixed. He rose to the Commissioner's post following the shooting and hospitalization of then Police Commissioner Barry Webb who was shot by a fellow police officer and the officer in question committed suicide while serving a 14-year prison sentence.

Most of the top brass within the RVIPF was shocked when two years ago it was said by a former Governor and Premier that there was no one in the force to take up the post of Deputy Commissioner of Police, hence the recruitment of United Kingdom Deputy Commissioner David Morris.

Frazer was publicly silent on those claims. One of the applicants, who was rejected for the post of Deputy Commissioner, is now the Commissioner of Police in Antigua and Barbuda, a police force that is three times the size of the RVIPF.

Furthermore, under Frazer’s watch, many local police officers allegedly felt that he was not looking out for them and they were allegedly singled out for discipline, lack of promotion, and lack of support to address vexing issues.

It was also reported that the number of locals joining the police force under Frazer has not increase significantly, with the RVIPF now filled with many Jamaicans, Vincentians, Guyanese, Africans and UK Officers. Virgin Islands News Online cannot independently verify these claims.

Commissioner Frazer was also seen by his critics as too “soft”, not media savvy and not in control of the RVIPF. Frazer also witnessed an increase in some crimes and a decrease in others.

However, there were positives. Frazer was instrumental in increasing recruitment in the force, modernization of the force and he saw much improvement with the infrastructure of police stations on Tortola such as Cane Garden Bay and the Police Headquarters in Road Town, the capital city.

He also presided over an improved marine base with new boats as well as bringing on stream CCTV to help with crime fighting. He was able every year to advocate for resources through the national budget process to purchase new equipment, new police vehicles and allowed officers from all ranks to receive training locally and overseas to improve their skills.

He will also leave the force with better investigative techniques, the interruption of major drug and crime rings, and more resources in general although not nearly enough to function at optimal level, according to information from some top brasses.

Efforts to solicit a comment from Police Commissioner Reynell Frazer were unsuccessful as the Police Information Officer Diane Drayton told this news site that the Police Commissioner will have no comments.

David Morris to Act

While no announcement has been made by Government or the National Security Council, the UK Deputy Commissioner David Morris is expected to act as Police Commissioner from in April and it is unclear if he will be given the Commissioner‘s post. Sources inside the RVIPF told this news site that there are speculations the he already has the backing of the United Kingdom appointed Governor, but they did not confirm how they got this information.

However, when this news site asked the source, if they spoke to Governor William Boyd McCleary on his position, the source said “No! But stay tune and you will see what happen once Frazer goes on pre-retirement leave.”

Sources inside the RVIPF reported that relations with Morris and black officers have improved after this news site broke the news last year about a rift between black officers vs whites and local officers vs expatriate officers which has affected the moral, and team working relationship of the organization.

In May 9, 2011, an article entitled ‘who is in charge of the RVIPF, is the Deputy too powerful?’ some officers speaking to this news site have alleged that there might be subtle discrimination in the RVIPF, as in a few meetings, Deputy Commissioner Morris had allegedly said that he needs the United Kingdom Officers as the local police officers do not “have the skills and capabilities like his UK officers”.

One officer had further told Virgin Islands News Online that Morris was allegedly always pushing a Nigel Nivens, a UK officer who is the Senior Investigative Officer, and telling the other local officers of Nivens’ alleged police skills that no other local officers have to investigate crime. However, another police officer told this news site in the same article mentioned above, that when crime occurs at night ‘we never see Nigel but he is the SIO”.

Following the Virgin Islands News Online article, the Deputy Commissioner made an attempt to censor this news site by shutting us out of all press conferences held by the RVIPF, removing our name from press release circulars including the reporters personal E-mail addresses and disallowing any senior officer from speaking to this news site on matters of public information.

Morris’ unprofessional, illegal and unconstitutional act was met with outrage from most in the legal and professional class, however, he has since lifted the ban without this news site having to seek remedy and intervention in the courts. Since then, he has maintained a good relationship with this news site and has done several interviews and spoke to what the RVIPF is doing to fight crime.

Correction

When Virgin Islands News Online first posted the original story on Commissioner Frazer’s retirement, a typographical error was made in which it was stated that former Police Commissioner Barry Webb was “shot under Frazer’s watch”. The typo, therefore, rendered that one very short line in the article incorrect, for in fact Commissioner Frazer was the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the time when former Police Commissioner Webb was shot.

We deeply regret the typographical error in the original article and offer our sincere apologies to Commissioner Frazer.

40 Responses to “UPDATE - Police Commissioner Frazer announces his retirement ”

  • queen bee (21/02/2012, 08:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    AT LEASET WE CANNOT BLAME DEY NDP FOR TIS ONE!!! LOL
    • fair and truth (21/02/2012, 12:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i just read the article and no place in the article i see them blaming the NDP for Mr. Frazer's retirement..come on people stop pulling on straws...vino is not going away!
  • Quiet Storm (21/02/2012, 08:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing will changed other than officialtitle change. DCP Morris was the de factor. Lome. The plan to install Morris as the Com is occurring like clock work. It started when amazingly no local cops were deemed qualified to be Com. But. Browne is serving as Com in A.tigua. We got abused and insulted with our eyes wide open. Or was it collusion? Are any locals now qualified to be Com or DCM? The force has regresses. It will be a long while before we see a.other local as. Com. Com congratulations on a well deserve retirement. The question though is what legacy you are leaving behind? This situation highlights the ghost of Willie Lynch. Let the dog and pony show begin. We all know who the next Com will be.
    • jim crow (21/02/2012, 11:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      you are so right Morris came so we could go back to the dark ages of salvery
    • billy b (21/02/2012, 14:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I always knew 'quiet storm" was Frett, and he have the nerve to be praising "quiet storm" for the comments made on his (frett's) articles. lol,lol,lol. Fret, get a life and go sit down, nobody aint studying you, lol,lol. Continue with your comments quiet storm because they will soon shut down your silly weekly article, lol,lol.
      • Quiet Storm (21/02/2012, 15:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Billy, you missed the boat. I"m not AC. I do not always agree with him, but when I'm it is expressed. Giving. Jack his jacket is healthy. ACis passionate about his beliefs so he probably do notd my validation. Io it because truth set you free. All of us hav e our own opinion.s and we should respect each others even if we do not agree. Billy B deep down you know the ghost of Willie Lynch haunts. Us.I do. Ot always agree with you probably u do not agree with me. But it is all good. What r your thoughts on the Com retirement?
  • police offcer (21/02/2012, 08:26) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Of course Morris will be the PC…but tis ah step backwards in 2012 for a white officer to head a force with 99 percent black officers…certainly backwards ever!!!!
  • BREAKING NEWS (21/02/2012, 08:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ Queen bee........Yes they will blame NDP for this one, wait till you see post from "critc" "oooooo" etc. Anyway, now that the bloggers that no one pays attention too is out of the way, lets get to the story at hand. We the public was expecting this. We know that Morris was sent here to replace Frazer and the only way to get that done in a quiet way so the public don't kick up is to retire him. Nice try guys but we ain't that dumb, well except for "critic" and "ooooo".
  • Oh La La (21/02/2012, 09:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Commissioner Frazer is SOOOOOO HOTTTTT, he makes my teeth and all Sweat. Please start a garden and do some fishing during your retirement so you may continue looking this HOTTTTTT!
  • ooooo (21/02/2012, 09:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    thats the end of we now
    • plans (21/02/2012, 23:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      under morris look lock going to jail..there plans are coming to forestion.
  • Crank Shaft (21/02/2012, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want the Frazer spelled with the 'S' to retire, now that would be good news! heh heh heh
    • sea cows bay massive (21/02/2012, 10:48) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      yea right not on your life "CRANK SHAFT" ..we will never let that happen..we cannot afford for the best and brightest to leave public office!!!! we put he dey and he will stay dey for life trust we...so go wheel and come again wid your NDP hate and wicked ugly self.... BAM BAM
  • UK Suntanners (21/02/2012, 12:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess that means all the UK officers will be sticking around for many years to come? It really is a shame. These officers can easily train the local officers in investigative techniques. There are many talented young men and women on the force who have training that they need to put to use. We don't need Scotland Yard in the BVI. These guys were brought in to help solve old murders. How many have been solved? Since their arrival we have had many large drug busts but they were spearheaded by the US FBI. All these UK officers are doing is filling the shoes of policemen that should be given the opportunity to move up the ranks and gain the experience. Time to go home to your own country lads and leave the policing to those who, believe it or not, really can handle the investigations. Take your top salaries and your suntans and go back to where you are appreciated. We can send our officers offshore for additional training as it's needed, but for now, we don't need you anymore. It's called succession training and you should be ready to pull out and go back to your old posts.
  • Manabouttown (21/02/2012, 13:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wish you well on your retirement , you had an expectation, but failed miserable. The men and women were crying out as we were in the wilderness, but God heard the voice of his children and responded instantaneously to them. As a person who occupied the seat of such institution should have made their exit on a high, notwithstanding no man is indispensable, the time has come. " take my word, you have my word on this, no one is above the law" those were some of your quotations. May God continue to bless you.
  • Miss ERR (21/02/2012, 14:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    MORRIS LOOKS OLD AND HAGGARD THESE DAYS. May be the stress of living in the Caribbean that he did not expect.
  • hmmm (21/02/2012, 14:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we have ppl here that can do this job,advertise the dam post we want a black commessioner,we already have a white governor
  • billy b (21/02/2012, 15:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe the stress of the Caribbean is the reason why you don't know maybe is one word, strruuupes
  • conspecrecy by the man (21/02/2012, 23:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    so it was a big set up..get a local police commissioner, say no one was qualified to fill the deputy post so they can bring in Morris, then after Fraser retires he is chief of staff...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah boy perfect plan and it worked!!! ayo fool fool in this place and soft meshon
  • don (22/02/2012, 10:51) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Rynell you have fought the good fight they know who they have but they do not know who they are getting
  • Miss D (22/02/2012, 11:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about Uncle Vernon for Commissioner? He has the experience, he is BVIslander and he is a lawyer. Give Uncle Vernon to prove himself now that he has added credentials. I hope the new Governor is going to appoint a BVIslander to the position and Orlando is keeping his eyes open.
    • race card (22/02/2012, 14:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      governor appoint a local? not on your life..this is jim crow...UK looking out for uk and they do not look like us!
  • jack will not be still (28/03/2012, 16:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    come no need to dace around we all know that Morris geting teh psot...i am wating to hear if myron will speak on this just like he spoke on Guy
  • Simple Simon (28/03/2012, 17:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Funny some people don't realize they still sing 'God save the Queen'.
    • BOTC (28/03/2012, 19:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you, some of these bloggers are so bias that they forgot that we are governed under The United Kingdom.
  • clean house (28/03/2012, 19:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The plan the UK had is now unfolding. It was said no locals were qualified to be Deputy in anticipation of Frazer’s retirement. Now they have no other choice but for the Morris to be Head...surprise... surprise… surprise…
  • Come on (28/03/2012, 21:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is so wrong with Morris being the acting head? Was he not the Deputy Commissioner. In any event, dont deputies act when their head go on leave -pre-retirement or otherwise. Come on, wish Mr. Morris good luck in that tough job and Mr. Frazer -many happy years of retirement. It is so imprudent to stir up anger. -who in the DPP's chambers can be the new DPP? Who can replace Morris now - Answer - nobody. Mr. Myron - you want a local DPP so that Herbie will walk over them?.
  • bad move for blacks (28/03/2012, 23:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I for once been a retire police am sad to see him go now we back to the plantation with Morris as the head...forward never backwards ever.
  • ausar (29/03/2012, 06:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I blame the Kindom on this one. For years they're trying to convince Virgin Islanders(British) that the crown was trying to do right by us. However, when it came to the Police Service, only those from the Baltic and the Asiatic seas will do. The Governor represents the crown and as such his actions cannot go against the crown. SO, In essence as far as the governor is concerned, only the Asiatics and the Baltics will do!
  • good job to both (29/03/2012, 23:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    vino i must say hats off again as you were right yet again on this one. I remember when you broke this news. All the best to Mr. Frazer..god blessings
  • ellie (27/09/2012, 11:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    How do I contact Reynell...a friend and admirer?
    • Paul Harvey (06/05/2022, 09:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am a retired Commissioner of Police of The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.I want to renew our friendship and speak about current affairs.

      Complaints Commissioner.


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