Police association draws support from off island

The proposed association comprising former or retired personnel of the Department of Public Safety continues to get support, this time from a former law enforcement officer currently residing in the U.S. mainland.

In a statement to the Saipan Tribune, retired chief parole officer Jess Bermudes extended his appreciation to retired Maj. Raymond Camacho for the creation of such an association.

“Indeed, we do need all the assistance and support [for] our Department of Public Safety and the community we can provide,” he said. “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Ray Camacho for coming up with good and worthy idea of forming this type of association.”

Bermudes said he is willing to volunteer and become a member of “this very worthy cause.”

In his statement, Bermudes revealed that he was one of the founders of the first CNMI Parole, Probation, and Corrections Association and was president as well before retiring.

“During this time, we managed to come up [with] and successfully complete an extensive law enforcement officers safety control tactics training with the assistance of DPS and [Office of Personnel Management],” he said.

In an earlier interview, Camacho said he is currently working with a legal counsel on drafting the association’s by-laws. An election of officers will be held shortly after completing the by-laws.

The association will comprise retired or former police and law enforcement officers, firefighters, and Corrections officers.

“The main purpose of organizing this association is to see what we [retired or former officers] can come up with to help the department and the community,” Camacho said. “We’re veterans and are very knowledgeable on how the department works, so we’re going to try to assist to better services for the department and the community.”

The association will be formed to organize a body for all public safety officers; promote efficiency in public safety work throughout the Commonwealth; promote sound development and administration of laws; maintain the highest standards of ethics, integrity, honor, and courtesy in the public safety profession; encourage a sound, practical and thorough training of public safety officers; and cherish a spirit of brotherhood among its members and to perpetuate their memory in history of their calling.