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DPS eyes extended coverage
The Department of Public Safety is focusing on extending coverage through establishing and opening up new stations for addressing public safety concerns in the other reaches of Saipan.
According to DPS Commissioner Robert Guerrero, DPS is eyeing to open new stations at the San Antonio, Koblerville, and the Dandan areas. Earlier this week, DPS’ new substation in San Roque held its ribbon cutting ceremony in efforts to improve response times in the north.
“Our response to the northern [area] have always been delayed due to the geographical location,” Guerrero said in a statement. “We already [had stations opened] at Kagman and Chalan Kanoa,” he added, also extending appreciation to the Department of Corrections Commissioner Vincent Attao, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, and the seven inmates that helped renovate the former Public Health Dispensary into the new substation.
“I hope that this would take care of a lot of the immediate calls pertaining to the north side,” said Torres. “I am sure that they feel a lot safe by having police officers going around the area,” he added.
According to Guerrero, the substation would be manned by about eight officers and would be open 24 hours.
“[The substation] is a place where people can file reports, similar to the main station,” he said.
“We always try to bring community policing down [to the people], so San Roque being the center of Tanapag, Marpi, and the As Matuis area is why we chose to place the substation here,” he added.
The rehabilitation program that was initiated for inmates seeking to be reinserted into society with a viable set of skills and experiences allowed inmates to expand their knowledge.
“We want to expand also the inmate’s scope of work and have them out and practicing it. Especially now when we are short on labor, it shows that they can be productive members of the society. Seeing this and having them work together collaboratively, I am optimistic that they are able to come out and participate in the workforce of the community,” said Torres, adding that he was happy that the program was working.
