‘Crimebuster’ Maj. Edward Manalili set to retire

Police Maj. Edward H. Manalili, who has earned a reputation of being a “crimebuster,” is retiring early next year, mostly due to health reasons.

Manalili, the commander of the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Division, is now on medical leave all the way to end of December and will be using his annual leave in January and February.

By the end of February or early March, the 50-year-old police major is expected to retire.

“I had a heart attack in early April of this year and I just got back from the Philippines where I had knee surgery. I think it’s about time that I take it easy and enjoy life a little bit more,” Manalili in an interview with Saipan Tribune during Wednesday’s blessing of the new CID and Traffic Section offices.

The police major has been serving in the department close to 20 years. He started his career at DPS as a police sergeant after a nine-year stint with the U.S. Marine Corps Military Police.

DPS then tasked Manalili to put together the elite Tactical Response Enforcement Team. While running TRET, he was also assigned at the Special Investigation Unit, working on drugs and firearms.

“My heart is still with DPS especially CID…it is something that I enjoy. But like I said, for health reasons, I think I need to just step down and let the younger guys take the lead,” he said.

Manalili said that, from what he sees right now, Sgt. Sylvan Rangamar, the acting CID commander, is doing an “outstanding job.”

“Due to his [Rangamar’s] leadership, they were able to resolve the recent homicide and the recent rash of robberies,” Manalili said. “I am very proud of them. And I will continue to support them in what they are trying to accomplish.”

His advice to young police officers? To just stay focused on what they are going.

“If they love what they are doing, it doesn’t matter how rough the water gets. I think they will be able to keep their heads up and continue to move forward,” he said.

Manalili said being a police officer takes a lot of dedication.

“The work is hard. It doesn’t pay much. But as you can see, a lot of the officers continue to stay on and do what they do because of their dedication and the love of law enforcement,” he added.

Under his leadership at CIB, detectives conducted in September 2006 the department’s biggest roundup, with the arrest of 17 persons, including five juveniles, in its crackdown against people allegedly involved in burglary and theft cases on Saipan.

It was also the efforts of Manalili with the help of some officers that the DPS evidence room turned “high-tech.”

At Manalili’s request, the Federal Bureau of Investigation a few years ago turned over some of its vehicles to DPS and the Office of the Public Auditor.