Deputy Commissioner, St Clair Amory

Hosts of the Talking Points radio show have questioned whether Deputy Commissioner St. Clair Amory was reasonably considered for the post of interim Police Commissioner, amid the recent controversy over the appointment of an external interim Police Commissioner.

During a recent episode of the Talking Points show, host Damion Grange said he found it troubling that Jacqueline Vanterpool was removed from the Acting Commissioner role only for an outsider to be recommended to fill the temporary post.

Grange argued that if Governor Daniel Pruce was not prepared to appoint Vanterpool, the next logical step should have been to elevate another senior member of the RVIPF.

“Don’t we have anybody else within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force that you can now bump up to the position to be a temporary Commissioner of Police while we continue with the process of securing a permanent commissioner?” he asked. “I found it a bit challenging to accept.”

Amory’s long service in the force includes appointments as Superintendent, Acting Assistant Commissioner, and later Deputy Commissioner. His rise through the ranks was widely regarded as an example of the local succession planning many say the RVIPF should prioritise. Critics of the recent interim Police Commissioner appointment argue that Amory’s experience, training and long institutional knowledge make him a good fit for the position if Vanterpool wasn’t favoured by Governor Pruce.

“There was one other person — St. Clair Amory — who was in the same position as Jackie,” Co-host, Gaul said. “And we are still waiting to get a full explanation as to what happened to Officer Amory. Because if there’s one person who can do that job, it’s him.”

Grange said the decision to bring in an external Acting Commissioner sends a discouraging message to officers who have served the organisation for decades.

“It must be demoralising for people in the force that every time you need to have a senior position filled, it must be filled by somebody coming in from the outside,” he said. “And if the conversation is that we don’t have the expertise within, I challenge that.”

He added that the Governor had spoken publicly about succession planning a year ago, yet a temporary leadership vacancy still resulted in appointing someone from outside the territory.

As dissent and political pressure continue over Vanterpool’s perceived demotion, both hosts suggested that the lack of detailed answers from the Governor regarding the handling of the interim Police Commissioner appointment only adds to the increasingly contentious issue that has stirred many within the community.