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Warfield says AGO is her home
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Posted on May 01 2008
Former Department of Public Safety commissioner Rebecca Warfield said yesterday she is absolutely delighted to be back at the Attorney General’s Office’s Criminal Division.
“The AG’s Office is my home,” said Warfield in an interview with Saipan Tribune at the swearing in ceremony for four new NMI Bar passers, including her husband, chief prosecutor Jeffery Warfield Sr.
Warfield, who assumes her former post as assistant attorney general, said that working with her husband at AGO is always a pleasure because she respects him a lot and trusts his judgment.
At AGO’s Criminal Division, she said she is committed to prosecuting sexual assault cases and protecting the victims.
With respect to Claudio Norita as the new DPS commissioner, Warfield said that Norita has made a lot of “terrific changes” in the department.
“He deserves an opportunity to lead the department and be supported while he is doing that. It doesn’t matter who the commissioner is, unless they get all the support from all the different communities and agencies,” she said.
To the police officers who signed a petition for her removal from DPS, Warfield said those officers should not forget the people in the community.
“Keep us all safe. That’s all I want is…for everybody to be safe,” she emphasized.
Warfield clarified that she was not kicked out from DPS, but that she resigned. When asked why she did so, she responded: “I’ve been at DPS for 19 months.” During that period, she and the department accomplished a lot of things together, she said.
“The crime rate was down,” Warfield said, adding that, among other things, DPS survived a U.S. Department of Justice’s inquiry.
Despite a limited budget, she said DPS managed to perform its job without compromising service to the community.
“I think they were tremendous accomplishments and it was a pleasure to serve,” Warfield added.
