A high-level resignation has raised questions about the leadership of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force at a time when the search for a new commissioner is stalled pending a delayed report from United Kingdom inspectors.
But few answers have been forthcoming from police or Governor Daniel Pruce, who is responsible for security in the territory.
Assistant Police Commissioner Pam Trevillion submitted her one-month resignation notice on Feb. 8, and Mr. Pruce has accepted it, according to a Friday memorandum he sent to Ms. Trevillion and circulated publicly.
Though police said Ms. Trevillion will remain on active duty until March 8, her resignation means she will leave her post more than two months early at a time when she is meant to be helping provide continuity in the senior police ranks.
Period of leave
Neither police nor Ms. Trevillion have said why she resigned, but the announcement came shortly after she returned from a period of leave.
Police have refused to disclose the reason for the leave or its dates, saying only that it stemmed from an “internal matter.”
On Feb. 10, however, they strongly denied an online media report linking the leave to an alleged altercation between Ms. Trevillion and acting Police Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool.
“The acting commissioner would like to make it abundantly clear that there was no physical confrontation between herself and [Ms.] Trevillion, and further there has not been any investigation of assault of any type launched against the ACP,” police said in a Feb. 10 statement.
They have not said whether there was a verbal confrontation between the two.
No comment
Mr. Pruce did not answer questions about Ms. Trevillion’s resignation or leave, and his office said questions “relating to human resources issues within the police should be directed to the RVIPF.”
Police declined to comment further, and Ms. Trevillion did not respond to requests for comment.
Leadership questions
The resignation comes at a tumultuous time for the RVIPF’s leadership.
On Oct. 31, Mr. Pruce announced that he had paused the search for a new police commissioner to replace Mark Collins, whose contract ended the same month, while the job criteria were revised to better accord with recommendations in a scathing law enforcement review completed last year by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
Three weeks after Mr. Pruce’s announcement, then-acting Governor David Archer Jr. said Ms. Trevillion’s contract had been extended by six months as part of a police leadership reorganisation designed to facilitate recommendations in the review.
At the time, Mr. Archer said Ms. Trevillion, who was originally sworn in on Nov. 23, 2022, would play a critical role in implementing reform recommendations.
“She will also support continuity in the senior leadership team during the recruitment of the new commissioner of police,” he said, adding that the Governor’s Office would “continue to work with [Ms.] Vanterpool and her senior team through this process, providing complete support as they address the operational challenges of crime in the Virgin Islands.”
Delayed report
This week, the Governor’s Office told the Beacon that the commissioner-recruitment process will restart after the governor receives the second volume of the inspectorate’s law enforcement review.
However, that report has been delayed. The inspectorate stated in the first volume, which was published last June, that it expected to publish the second volume by “late summer” of last year.
This week, the agency told the Beacon that it now expects to publish the volume in the spring. It did not respond to a question about the reason for the delay.
‘Ensuring stability’
Despite the uncertainty, the Governor’s Office sought to reassure the public this week.
“The governor has reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring stability of the RVIPF,” the office told the Beacon. “This support will include the deployment of officers to provide advice on addressing organisational priorities and challenges, and to assist with completing the recommendations set out in the law enforcement review. These initiatives are intended to support the acting commissioner.”
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