The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has reinforced its commitment to addressing corruption within its ranks, Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool announced during a press conference held today, January 15, at Police Headquarters.
In response to recommendations from a recent commission of inquiry, the RVIPF has fully staffed its Professional Standards Unit. The unit now comprises a chief inspector, an inspector, a sergeant, and two constables, tasked with handling public complaints about police misconduct.
“We have staffed the Professional Standards Unit with personnel dedicated to addressing complaints of corruption made by the public against police officers,” Acting Commissioner Vanterpool stated. “We ensure that these complaints are dealt with fairly and transparently. The public can rest assured that all corruption complaints are being addressed, and we will not tolerate any officer found to be corrupt remaining in this organisation.”
The Acting Commissioner revealed that there are currently 12 officers on interdiction, a step taken following allegations of corruption within the force. “Some have been arrested and charged, and are now before the court and are awaiting the outcome of the trials.” she explained.
Last week Police Constable Earlando Baynes, was charged following an internal investigation into a significant security breach. The breach, which occurred during a planned police operation in November 2024, involved the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information. This jeopardised the operation’s success and raised serious concerns about law enforcement integrity. Following the investigation, Baynes was arrested and charged with Breach of Trust by a Public Officer.
Commissioner Vanterpool acknowledged past challenges with public confidence due to a lack of communication about how complaints were handled. To address this, the RVIPF has implemented measures to keep the public informed about the status and outcomes of complaints.
“Over the years, there were concerns that complaints were made, but the public wasn’t hearing what the police were doing about them,” she said. “We’ve now improved in this area, and we are informing the public about what has been done, what remains outstanding, and what our goals are in handling these cases.”
While admitting there have been missteps in the past, Commissioner Vanterpool emphasised that significant improvements have been made in addressing complaints effectively and efficiently.
“Going forward, the Professional Standards Unit will continue to ensure that all complaints go through the proper processes, with every step completed thoroughly,” she added.
The Acting Commissioner reiterated the RVIPF’s commitment to fairness and transparency in rooting out corruption and restoring public trust.
The fugitive known as John Dawn Emmanuel, also identified as Brent Dain Danglade and the alias “Small Brent,” who was first named by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in connection with the May 2025 murder of Nyron Erickson in Tortola, is now also being sought by authorities in Sint Maarten in relation to a separate double homicide investigation.
Emmanuel was publicly identified in May 2025 as the prime suspect in the killing of Erickson and was considered armed and dangerous. At the time, BVI authorities launched an intensive manhunt and warned residents not to approach him.
Now, nearly a year later, the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Sint Maarten and KPSM Police have issued their own wanted notice, identifying the same suspect as the alleged shooter in the March 2, 2026 “Alligator” double murder investigation on Arlet Peters Road.
The victims in that case were Damien Sylvester and Denisha Delancy. Prosecutors described the incident as a targeted killing aimed at Sylvester, with Delancy believed to have been an unintended victim.
Police in Sint Maarten have released several images from different periods to show the public how Emmanuel has appeared over time, including both recent and older photographs. The published images highlight noticeable differences in his appearance across various stages, while investigators also noted that he has an elongated tattoo on the inside of his right forearm.
While law enforcement agencies across the Caribbean are coordinating efforts to locate him, JTV News BVI has not independently confirmed any active murder warrant issued by U.S. Virgin Islands authorities specifically charging Emmanuel. Current publicly documented wanted notices primarily involve the BVI murder investigation and the Sint Maarten double murder case. Regional cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions, including U.S. agencies, has been reported as part of broader search efforts.
Police continue to urge residents throughout the Virgin Islands and neighboring territories not to approach the suspect and to report any information directly to law enforcement.
JTV News will continue following developments in this major regional manhunt.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has confirmed that Tarik Aaron was arrested shortly before midnight on Friday, April 17, on extradition orders issued by authorities in the United States Virgin Islands, and has since appeared before the Magistrate’s Court.
According to police, the arrest was carried out in connection with a request from USVI authorities, though further details have not been disclosed.
Aaron appeared before the Magistrate’s Court today and was denied bail.
Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
Six new police vehicles have been added to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) fleet as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen law enforcement capacity in the Territory.
The force stated that the vehicles will support policing operations by improving mobility, response times and visibility across communities in the Virgin Islands.
“These additions form part of our continued efforts to enhance operational capacity and visibility across our communities,” the RVIPF said in a statement.
The vehicles are expected to be deployed on roads throughout the Territory as they begin active patrols in support of law enforcement duties.
The RVIPF also indicated that additional vehicles are expected to arrive in the coming months, further expanding the resources available to officers.