DPS officers up in arms vs Camacho

Majority of personnel and officers at the Department of Public Safety and fire division have expressed dissatisfaction with the management of Commissioner Edward Camacho and have asked the help of the Legislature and other elected officials to straighten things out at the department.

In papers filed last week at the House of Representatives, at least 160 officers signed a petition circulated within the department and its divisions for a month asking the Legislature to look into what they described as “personal feuds, vindictive condition, and disagreements occurring between the members of the DPS upper management.”

The police and fire officers said the morale of frontline officers is already at rock bottom because of these.

More than 80 percent of the entire DPS populace signed the petition.

The Saipan Tribune tried to obtain comments from Camacho yesterday but nobody was answering his cell phone.

In a briefing Friday, Rep. Clyde Norita disclosed that officers from the DPS Criminal Investigation Division, Special Operations, Bike Patrol, Traffic Division, Boating Safety Section, COPPS, and fire division are asking the help of elected CNMI officials to evaluate the DPS’ current working conditions and the crisis looming at the department.

“We, the following personnel of the DPS, sign this petition to solicit the assistance from our elected leaders to evaluate our current working conditions and the crisis that we have dealt with for approximately two and half years,” reads part of the petition.

The petition alleged that Camacho was informed of the problems and working condition at the DPS but he failed to act on these problems until it affected majority of the police and fire officers in the service.

Of the problems facing the department, the petitioners said the personnel shortage, vehicle shortage, lack of police and fire uniforms, lack of training logistic, and lack of gears and equipment are but a few of the problems affecting the police force’s ability to perform at the required standards.

The group stressed that the DPS is critically in need of equipment to perform daily missions and responsibilities.

“On several occasions, we have informed our commissioner during our DPS Command Staff meeting of our current situation. Approximately four months of non-existent automotive shop for our vehicle services and repair needs, the lack of fuel for our vehicles and the injustice of several promotions without pay except for few selected personnel [are but a few of these problems],” said the signatories.

According to the petition, the officers are lacking in support not only professionally but also emotionally, affecting their ability to perform better.

“This really affects the already rock-bottom morale within our frontline officers of both police and fire divisions. We are asking to see if there’s a way that we, your police officers and firefighters, can be provided with the necessary tools and a better working atmosphere, so that we can perform our missions and responsibility, which is to provide our CNMI community with peace of mind, safety and security—effectively and efficiently. We need help, please help us,” said the group.

Norita, who is a former police officer and later federal and grants officer, urged Camacho to stop issuing statements and deal with the problems of the DPS and his officers.

“Stop with the press conferences. Sit down with DPS personnel and talk to them. Work hard in finding a solution on problems brewing below him. And if he needs help, come up to the Legislature, work with the Legislature on finding a solution to these problems,” Norita advised Camacho.

The congressman said the problem at the DPS has moved beyond funding and vehicle shortages to morale. “The problems now affect the quality of their service. How can officers work in a hostile environment; they are protesting the ways of the DPS management,” he added.

Now that DPS officers have sought the assistance of officials, Norita said the Legislature would try to find ways on how it can help them, particularly since the problems are not only on the funding and shortage of vehicles. “We would look further into this. Our officers need help and they are asking all elected officials to help them,” said the representative.

The petition was signed and collected from all divisions at the DPS. Also, it included the complete listing of the signatories, their current status, rank, and division affiliated to verify authenticity.