Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool said officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force must be vetted. Photo: Facebook

Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force have raised concerns over aspects of the vetting process that they find intrusive. Photo:

Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool has met with Governor Daniel Pruce to discuss police officers' concerns pertaining to the vetting proces. Photo:

Last week, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reported that officers had rejected the vetting process due to it being intrusive and had even sought, through the Police Welfare Association (PWA), legal advice from high-powered attorney Dr Terrance F. Williams. 

Ms Vanterpool, in an interview with JTV Channel 55 on May 9, 2025, said, “Vetting is something that we fully support as an organisation. It must be done.”

She added that while it is a pivotal step for the RVIPF, officers are not “at a place of comfort” when it comes to the process. 

'Intrusive' vetting process challenges raised with AG & Governor- ACoP Vanterpool 

“A number of challenges were outlined to me both verbally and in writing; those concerns were addressed by myself, along with Sandra Wood, who is our representative from the UK. They were also outlined to the Governor as well,” she said. 

Acting Commissioner Vanterpool said she also had a meeting with the PWA and a separate meeting with officers to find out firsthand their concerns. 

“As I said, we have no problem with it, but the vetting form, it is very intrusive, very intrusive, in terms of the information that we have to disseminate on the form that is being asked.”

Ms Vanterpool revealed that she, along with the RVIPF’s Command Team, met with the Governor and the Attorney General. 

During the meeting, she said the “AG outlined that no such constitutional breaches have taken place and there was a clearer understanding to us, myself and the command team”. 

She also informed that this information has been passed on to officers recently. 

I still stand in solidarity with them- Acting CoP Vanterpool

While Acting CoP Vanterpool said she does believe the concerns raised by her officers have been addressed, she still has a duty to her officers. 

“It doesn't change the fact that at the end of the day, if my officers are complaining that it is still challenging for them, I still stand in solidarity in support of my officers because I have a duty and a care to look out for my officers…the underlying factor is that my officers are still uncomfortable, they don’t think that we have really addressed the issues that they outlined,” she said. 

As it pertains to officers seeking legal advice, Ms Vanterpool said they can seek legal recourse to “get a better legal perspective of it”, however; she added that it “it doesn’t change that fact that as an organisation, we have an obligation to fulfill the role of being vetted because we must be vetted.”

See link to previous story published May 8, 2025:

RVIPF officers reportedly reject 'intrusive' vetting process | Virgin Islands News Online