Reservists’ deployment seen to drain DPS

The CNMI government is mulling contingency options in anticipation of the prolonged off-island deployment of police officers, after the federal government alerted reservists for possible combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Babauta administration, however, ruled out the possibility that it would tap off-island resources—including the military—to ensure that public safety services are not disrupted.

Although the deployment of local police officers would worsen the Department of Public Safety’s manpower shortage, Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s press secretary, Pete Callaghan, dismissed that there is an imminent emergency situation in the CNMI.

Callaghan said the governor would not resort to an emergency declaration to address the anticipated impact of the deployment.

Several policemen are members of the Army Reserve and are all headed to Hawaii this coming Sunday. Callaghan said an advanced party of policemen already left for Hawaii last Sunday.

Callaghan refused to officially disclose the number of police officers headed to Hawaii, but said it was “enough…to be a matter of concern for the Governor and the [DPS] commissioner.”

Callaghan said the policemen would undergo a three-week training as part of the Army Reserve’s annual training. He noted, however, the possibility that the duration of the deployment might be extended amid calls for reservists to augment U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

DPS commissioner Edward Camacho yesterday convened the department’s personnel at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library’s conference room in connection with contingency measures being studied by the administration to cushion the deployment’s impact on public safety services. Babauta personally appeared at the meeting in the afternoon.

Callaghan said there are four options that are currently being looked at by the administration. These options are now under study by the Attorney General’s Office to ensure their legality once implemented.

“We think there is enough resources in the CNMI to ensure smooth flow of public safety services,” Callaghan said.

The Pentagon had announced the involuntary call-up of inactive personnel to reinforce depleted missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Babauta earlier confirmed that the CNMI’s Army Reserve unit received notification of deployment. Reports said there are about 83 CNMI reservists, including 30 police officers, who would be deployed beginning this week. Reservists from Saipan, Guam and American Samoa form part of the Army Reserve’s 500-strong 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry.