Previous Story
3 YEARS AFTER DPL TURNED OVER ABANDONED BUILDING TO DPS
Building remains unrenovated, is vandalized
The abandoned building in Susupe that the Department of Public Lands turned over to the Department of Public Safety in 2013 for its community policing program remains unrenovated. The facility has also been vandalized several times. (Ferdie de la Torre)
An abandoned building in Susupe that the Department of Public Lands turned over to the Department of Public Safety in December 2013 for a new police substation remains unrenovated and has attracted the attention of vandals, with the building’s walls spray-painted several times.
The building is located next to a basketball court near the Mobil gas station in Susupe. It used to house the Head Start Center and a community hall. Saipan Tribune saw words written in red paint along with other drawings outside the building.
When asked about DPS’ plan for the building and why it’s not been improved or fixed, DPS Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero said he cannot answer that.
“There is no money for that,” Guerrero said.
The commissioner said he is also aware that the building is being vandalized.
Guerrero believes that House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan) and a Precinct 2 representative are having the building renovated.
Then-DPL Secretary Pete Tenorio turned over the abandoned building to then-DPS commissioner James Deleon Guerrero in December 2013 for DPS’ Community Oriented Policing Section Center.
Until the renovation work is done, DPS will be assigning some officers at the Manhoben Center in Chalan Kanoa District 2 to the area.
DPS Commissioner Robert Guerrero said they want to get the community policing program rolling.
Guerrero said they are working closely with either the Ayuda Network or the manhoben and partnered with Youth Affairs to utilize a portion of the manhoben facility in Chalan Kanoa as a temporary substation.
Guerrero said this has been done because it takes time for that building in Susupe to get in line.
“We cannot keep delaying the project as far as putting officers in villages,” he said.
Guerrero said they already opened the Kagman substation and that they are beefing up the koban station in Garapan.
The commissioner disclosed that they are also planning to put up one substation in San Roque.
He said once the Koblerville fire substation is renovated and complete, he will request Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Claudio Norita to allow police officers there as well.
“We’re kind of putting officers on all four corners of the island,” Guerrero said.
