What has not come as a surprise to many is that the United Kingdom-appointed governor, Daniel Pruce, has once again rejected a recommendation of the Police Service Commission (PoSC). Photo: YouTube

Governor Daniel Pruce, left, had publicly praised the work of Ms Jacqueline E. Vanterpool as Acting Commissioner of Police, but still refused to have her confirmed to the post. Photo: GIS/File

At a press conference at Government House today, May 7, 2026, Governor Pruce announced that he has rejected the recommendation of the PoSC for the appointment of a new Commissioner of Police for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and has ordered a new recruitment process.

Governor Pruce said the recommendation, submitted “last autumn”, had undergone months of review and consultation involving the Police Service Commission, the National Security Council (NSC), the Office of the Deputy Governor and the Human Resources Department.

“For such an important public appointment, I didn’t have [a] sufficient evidence base to enable me to take that decision,” Mr Pruce claimed.

Ullger stays on

Interim Acting Commissioner Richard Ullger will remain in the position while the new recruitment process, which could take about six months, begins.

The governor was asked how he would respond to people who would say that his ignoring the wishes of the PoSC and NSC is quite arrogant for someone who is an unelected London appointee. “Why do you know better than people, most of them who have lived here all their lives, about what’s best for the Virgin Islands?” Mr Pruce was asked.

The governor said his duty as governor “is to take this decision based on the most robust evidence-based that can be provided” and that he was not satisfied this was provided this time around.

The heavy-handed decision by the unelected governor comes even as there has been overwhelming support from the community for local Jacqueline E. Vanterpool to be confirmed to the post of Commissioner of Police.

Many have long accused the governor of being racist, sexist and hypocritical. Governor Pruce had publicly praised the work of Ms Vanterpool as Acting CoP, but still refused to have her confirmed to the post.  

See related article below:

2-faced Governor Pruce praises PoSC despite consistently overriding its authority