RECRUITMENT OF NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER HALTED AMID RISING SECURITY DEMANDS

His Excellency Governor Daniel Pruce announced on Thursday that he is terminating the recruitment process for the new Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), citing the need for a revised approach to address the territory’s increasing security challenges.

The governor emphasized that with evolving threats and new findings from recent law enforcement reviews, the original criteria for the commissioner role no longer align with the force’s needs.

“As the security challenges facing the Virgin Islands are becoming more complex,” Governor Pruce said, “it is crucial to bring in a commissioner who possesses the unique qualities needed to lead a mission-critical organisation through a complex strategic transformation.”

Governor Pruce explained that the initial process, launched earlier this year, was intended to ensure a smooth transition in the RVIPF leadership following Commissioner Mark Collins’ departure at the end of his contract in November. However, given new information emerging from an extensive law enforcement review, Governor Pruce determined that the recruitment criteria needed revision to attract a candidate capable of navigating both operational responsibilities and long-term strategic changes.

The governor pointed to the comprehensive review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services, which offered 138 recommendations in its first volume, many directly impacting the RVIPF. He indicated that further recommendations are expected in the forthcoming second volume, and noted that implementing these will shape the RVIPF’s future for years to come.

“The assessments of volumes one and two show that the qualities we need in that new Commissioner are different to those we sought when we launched the recruitment process earlier this year,” Pruce stated. He underscored that this decision aligns with his constitutional responsibility to ensure optimal security for the Virgin Islands.

With the recruitment process suspended, the territory will temporarily be without a police commissioner following Commissioner Collins’ departure in November. Senior officers within the RVIPF will fill the leadership void until the role is reassigned, with support from other senior-level reinforcements the governor will seek.

The decision to suspend the hiring process, while necessary, is expected to delay the arrival of new leadership within the RVIPF, whose officers continue to face considerable demands as they respond to daily security threats. Governor Pruce expressed his gratitude for their resilience and commitment, emphasizing the importance of providing them with a skilled leader who meets the current and future needs of the force.

Reflecting on his tenure, the Governor called the forthcoming commissioner appointment “the single most important security decision” of his time in office, underscoring the high stakes involved for the people of the Virgin Islands.

To all who applied in the now-cancelled recruitment process, the governor offered his appreciation and assured them that they could re-apply under the new criteria, expected to be published soon.