Camacho: Tough times ahead for DPS

Already faced with a severe shortage of personnel, the Department of Public Safety is expecting a tougher road ahead, according to DPS commissioner Edward C. Camacho.

In an interview yesterday, Camacho said the manpower shortage is beginning to take its toll on the available personnel, with responsibilities being spread out among fewer people who are working in longer shifts.

“It’s tough, and its going to get tougher,” he said. “We are starting to feel the work-related stress, [but] we are able to manage and continue to fulfill our public service, even with the limited resources.”

Camacho said the search for answers to address the issue continues, with the meeting within the department slated for tomorrow. “We are going to meet and find ways to deal with the issue.”

Further, the department chief stressed the need for emergency hiring to fill the slots left vacant by the departure of Army Reservists within the department.

“I have some vacant slots and this is one way to take care of the situation: by filling that,” he said.

Camacho said police officers currently work in 12-hour shifts. Although many have adjusted to the workload due to past overtime operations, work-related stress may be generated due to the extended hours on a regular basis.

Earlier, Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano said he would introduce a joint resolution to authorize DPS to conduct emergency hiring when the upper house resumes session tomorrow.

The Senate President said he is looking at possibly authorizing the governor to identify and reprogram funds if the current DPS budget falls short in hiring some 80 to 100 employees to fill the vacant slots at the department. The resolution would also cover the needed funding for training at the CNMI’s police academy.

About 30 policemen and firefighters left for the Army Reserve training in Hawaii, in the wake of the Pentagon’s call for reservists to boost depleted U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The deployment leaves the department with 115 policemen and 71 firefighters on Saipan.

The number for the Fire Division is expected to decrease tomorrow after two firefighters are deployed to California to assist the U.S. Forestry Service in fighting wildfires. The two, along with nine others, make up a crew that leaves for Sacramento tomorrow at 5pm.

Senate minority leader Pete Reyes also said he would be amenable to authorizing the governor to identify and reprogram funds—if necessary—to implement the emergency hiring of DPS personnel.

With the manpower shortage, Camacho also urges resigned DPS employees to return to service. He said the department is also weighing the possibility of tapping the services of DPS retirees.

Camacho earlier reiterated the need for additional manpower for the department on Tinian and Rota.