Deputy Police Commissioners St. Clair Amory and Jacqueline Vanterpool received their certificates of appointment and United Kingdom national Pam Trevillion was sworn in as assistant commissioner during a short ceremony on Nov. 23 at the Governor’s House, the Police Information Office announced the next day.
The two deputy commissioners outrank the assistant commissioner, Police Information Officer Diane Drayton said. Mr. Amory previously acted as assistant commissioner since the position was created in mid 2021, she added.
Attendees at the Nov. 23 ceremony included Governor John Rankin; Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley; Deputy Governor David Archer; Deputy Premier Kye Rymer; other members of the National Security Council; and members of the Police Service Commission headed by Rosalia Gardener, according to a PIO press release issued the next day.
During the ceremony, Police Commissioner Mark Collins acknowledged the “unusually long, but necessary” process in filling the top three posts, which he said are essential to his work as commissioner, according to the PIO. “While the process took a long time, I am confident we have selected the best candidates for the positions as we take the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force into this new season,” he said.
Mr. Collins congratulated the two deputy commissioners and noted that both are well seasoned veterans of the RVIPF, the police said. Two firsts for VI “Jacqueline Vanterpool is now the first female deputy commissioner,” he added.
“Female officers are making their mark in this male-dominated profession of law enforcement not just here but all over the world and, for sure, are moving up the ladder swiftly, confidently, and commendably. She is one of those officers.”
He added that Ms. Trevillion — the RVIPF’s first female assistant commissioner — is a veteran law enforcer who previously reached the rank of superintendent in the UK before coming to the VI.