More deployment of reservists seen

More personnel from the Department of Public Safety will be deployed to Hawaii for Army Reserve training this week, further escalating the manpower shortage in the department, according to DPS commissioner Edward Camacho.

Camacho disclosed this after attending yesterday’s Senate session, where the Upper House adopted a joint resolution authorizing 100 new full-time positions for the department. The House of Representatives has yet to ratify the resolution, which also seeks to authorize the governor to reprogram funds for the new positions.

“This week, I may lose more

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,” according to Camacho, who said that inactive reservists are also being called for military training. He said up to 10 personnel might go to Hawaii for the training this week, in the wake of the Pentagon’s call for reservists to augment U.S. troops in Iraq and the Afghanistan.

The imminent deployment would mean a total of 40 DPS personnel sent to Hawaii. According to Camacho, the earlier deployment of active reservists, including 30 DPS men, has left the department with just 115 policemen and 71 firefighters on Saipan.

The remaining total falls short of the current FTE ceiling of 371 on Saipan. The FTE ceilings for Tinian and Rota are 56 and 59, respectively.

If the House of Representatives ratifies Senate Joint Resolution 14-08, the FTE ceilings would increase subject to the discretion of the DPS commissioner, particularly on how he would distribute the 100 positions among the three islands.

Camacho said he might distribute 20 new FTEs each for Tinian and Rota, while the remaining 60 would be for Saipan’s public safety department.

“I am pleased with the quick passage [of the joint resolution],” said Camacho, who met with Senate President Joaquin Adriano before the session began.

Adriano introduced the resolution on the floor, which got the quick approval of all six senators present, including majority and minority leaders Paul Manglona and Pete Reyes, Joseph Mendiola, Henry San Nicolas, and Diego Songao, besides the Senate president.

Adriano excused senators Thomas Villagomez and Luis Crisostimo from the session upon the request of Reyes, while Sen. Paterno Hocog was absent.

“To ensure that the DPS’ operations and functions are not compromised to the detriment of island residents’ safety and well-being, the DPS must be authorized additional full-time positions to address the present personnel shortage,” states the resolution.

It seeks to limit funds reprogramming for salary and training requirements of personnel who will fill in the new positions.

Camacho said that, although there is a significant number of unfilled FTE positions, the 100 new FTE’s would also address programs that the DPS would implement, including the “Hafa Adai Patrol” that would increase police visibility in tourist areas.

He said the department would also enhance beach patrol by detailing lifeguards in beach areas. More personnel would be detailed for maritime security, amid the U.S. military’s plan to increase the number of prepositioned ships on Saipan.

Camacho said he would meet with Gov. Juan N. Babauta tomorrow to discuss funding requirements for replacement positions within the department.