DPS reminded against accepting gifts

Accepting gifts and gratuities are deemed unethical in law enforcement—a reminder that Public Safety Commissioner Edward C. Camacho hopes will remain among all DPS personnel.

The DPS command and staff have been brushing up on their ethics knowledge through presentations conducted by the Office of the Public Auditor during the past week, as part of efforts to maintain and instill professionalism in the department.

“The presentation targeted on informing our staff on the ethics of what is good and right, about how our officers should act, especially on gifts and gratuities from the outside. With our police officers, they regulate everybody, so they cannot accept gifts from anybody. [This does not involve] just businesses but also personal associates,” said Charlene Sablan, DPS’ Officer-In-Charge for Training.

Sablan stressed that DPS employees are not supposed to accept free lunches, restaurant or store discounts, or even a simple cup of coffee. “That’s a ‘no-no’ for our department personnel.”

The DPS commissioner, however, admitted there may have been instances that police officers out in the field have been confronted with these kinds of “temptations.”

“They’re probably more of temptations than actual dealings when people hand you $20 in exchange for the ticket. It can be the decision of the officer to either arrest that person or take the money.

“Now we keep telling our officers that you have a choice in the matter. But you don’t have any choice in the consequence that may come out in the bad decision you made. So we tell them that they need to make the right decisions. If they’re caught in any kind of dilemma, the right thing of course is to arrest that person for trying to bribe you for the ticket,” said Camacho.

The commissioner was proud to note that many police officers have managed to do the right thing.

“I want to commend the officers for sticking to the right decisions. And they have done that because I have not seen anything or heard otherwise,” he said.

The DPS continues to hold Officer Professional Development sessions such as the Ethics Act refreshers in order to keep all personnel reminded of their duties and responsibilities.

Sablan said the sessions conducted by OPA also touched on Personnel Service Rules and Regulations, as well as, the Civil Service Act.

DPS employees were further warned against engaging in political activities in the workplace and during working hours.

“Selling tickets in government offices—that cannot be done, especially relating to political fund-raisers,” Sablan said.