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DPS to alert judiciary, victims
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Posted on Oct 19 1999
The Department of Public Safety will soon adopt a policy that will immediately notify members of the judiciary about any prison escape so that they can protect themselves from possible attacks by inmates.
According to DPS Commissioner Charles W. Ingram, the new procedure was in response to a request made by Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel Demapan.
Ingram said the department is also studying the possibility of providing security to members of the judiciary. Also to be notified by the police in the event of another prison escape are witnesses, victims and their relatives.
In his letter to Ingram, Demapan said judges and justices are potential targets of attacks by inmates who escape the corrections since they are the ones who send these convicts to jail.
The most recent escape incident had prompted Demapan to write to Ingram. Escape charges have been filed against the three inmates — Shawn Appleby, Melvyn Basa and Jeronimo Ada, who bolted out of jail two weeks ago.
Concerns about the security of the community was raised by officials led by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio since this is the fourth jailbreak under Ingram’s command.
Tenorio issued a stern warning to DPS officials to be more careful next time in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The governor was irked by the frequency of jailbreak incidents and urged the officials to carry out their job well. Ingram has blamed the failure of prison guards to follow procedures in the latest escape.
DPS was flooded with angry calls from people expressing fear for the safety of their family as police warned residents that the escapees are armed and dangerous.
Many residents even vowed to shoot the escapee should they force themselves into their houses.
