House asks: Is there a DPS crisis?

The House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations chair has questioned what it describes as the Department of Public Safety’s “failure” to declare a crisis despite mounting concerns hounding the agency, particularly its need for more patrol cars.

Appalled by what he says is “obvious disregard” for the problem, committee chair Jesus Lizama also expressed confusion why the funding problem exists when the Office of Management and Budget had disclosed that a budget allocation of more than $500,000 has been earmarked for patrol car purchases since 1997.

Lizama said that, after the DPS notified legislators of several concerns in February, the police department failed to provide the information that would help the House of Representatives in taking the necessary action. Further, the JGO committee stressed that DPS never made any effort to respond to the House’s inquiry since then.

“The committee is very concerned about reports of lack of patrol cars serving the island of Saipan. To be specific, you declared the availability of only four working patrol cars. To further exacerbate the problem, your department has not made any effort to declare a crisis on the obvious lack of resources in responding to the ever increasing emergency calls from Saipan residents,” committee chair Jesus Lizama told DPS Commissioner Edward Camacho in a letter dated May 20.

The congressman added that, to blame the lack of funding as the reason for the department’s mounting problems is questionable in that DPS’ funding level has remained within the same level since fiscal year 1997, yet the DPS vehicle fleet in those years remained at over 30.

Also, the committee chair disclosed that OMB has been allotting $500,000 for patrol car purchases and the allotments have been authorized since 1997.

“We are curious as to how this funding level has diminished through internal reprogramming under your administration,” the chair asked Camacho.

Lizama believes that the lack of patrol cars within DPS is just tip of the department’s mounting problems, adding that the committee hopes to help in identifying the root of the problem and provide necessary solutions.

To determine the extent of the problem, Lizama, along with Rep. Clyde Norita, asked Camacho to provide all information needed to the committee by May 28 so that necessary actions can be taken before the problem get worse.

Of the items requested, Lizama asked the commissioner to list all DPS purchased vehicles, models, odometer reading, unit assignment, vehicle condition and if the vehicles were purchased with federal funds. Also the committee wants to known to whom the vehicles are assigned.

The committee also asked DPS to provide them the list of repair shops and auto parts stores used by the DPS and all its receivables and liabilities, along with the list of all cellular phones, radio phones that are purchased and leased by the department. To augment the list, Lizama also requested for a copy of all cellular phone billings between February and April 2004, including accounts in local and federal funds.

Lizama said he also wants the list of all DPS personnel promoted or reallocated to a higher class since January 2002, including their present pay levels and effective date of personnel actions.

“We hope to see all the required documentation and information by May 28, 2004,” the congressman told Camacho.

The DPS earlier disclosed that based on current operational expenses, the police department is on the verge of exceeding its fiscal year 2004 allocation, prompting it to consider asking for a bailout measure from the administration and the Legislature.

The move is being compelled by the need to continue operations despite the insufficient funding allocation the department has been receiving for several years now. Of the problems facing the department, Camacho said the shortage of operational patrol and traffic vehicles has been deterring police response activities.

Besides asking for additional funding or possibly a bailout measure from the administration and the Legislature, Camacho said several steps are currently being done to remedy the shortage of patrol vehicles.

Camacho said he has waived the 75,000 miles requirement to allow patrol officers more time to use the vehicles. He also enforced a maintenance preventive check on all vehicles. The Motor Vehicle Condition Report, an assessment made daily, is being done to ensure that all patrol vehicles are in top-notch condition.

Also, the commissioner had ordered that all DPS unmarked vehicles be used for other patrol purposes and operations to maximize the use of police vehicles in light of the shortage.