DPS airs laundry list of woes

If it sometimes takes police officers awhile to respond to an emergency, it may be because the available patrol car overheated on its way and “this is not an exaggeration,” acting Department of Public Safety commissioner Ambrosio Ogumoro told members of the House Ways and Means Committee on Capital Hill yesterday.

Rep. Ray Basa’s (Cov-Saipan) committee hearing on DPS’ fiscal year 2013 budget unearthed a long laundry list of woes that include having only three working patrol vehicles that cover an estimated Saipan population of 48,220; a freeze in promotion for at least 11 years; and lots of overtime because of a manpower shortage.

Ogumoro told lawmakers that they are only able to sustain operations by augmenting the three patrol cars with four traffic vehicles, boating safety and other DPS vehicles.

Another three to four patrol cars are in auto shops because of problems with radiator or water pump or transmission, among other things. The rest of the original 20 fleet are now beyond repair.

Ogumoro said the ideal number of patrol cars for Saipan is at least 20.

“While we’re trying to fix one vehicle, another breaks down. Vehicles also have a lifespan, wear and tear. There will come a time they need to be taken off the streets,” said DPS Fire director Tom Manglona.

Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune after the budget hearing that DPS also could not immediately take vehicles out of auto shops because DPS owes these businesses some $12,000 for previous repairs and maintenance.

While police officers can at least go home and take a rest after their shift, DPS patrol cars are in use 24 hours, adding to the normal wear and tear of vehicles. Most of these vehicles were bought more than a decade ago.

DPS also has meager funds for vehicle fuel and maintenance, only about $400,000 under the governor’s proposed budget.

Manglona said that DPS incurs an average of $40,000 a month for fuel, which adds up to almost half a million a year. That does not even include the cost of emergency repairs and maintenance, nor does it factor in the increasing cost of fuel.

“There’s nothing else for maintenance,” Manglona told lawmakers.

Governor’s budget

DPS asked Gov. Benigno R. Fitial for a $10 million budget in fiscal year 2013.

Fitial, in his $102 million budget submission to the Legislature, gave DPS only a little over $8 million. This is already an increase of $2 million from the 2012 budget of some $6 million.

“That’s welcome news that DPS will have a $2-million increase,” Basa said.

Ogumoro said the department is also thankful for the proposed $2-million increase but he said this is not enough to sustain DPS’ operations. He asked lawmakers to consider giving DPS more than $8 million.

Ogumoro said the governor’s proposed overtime funding is $49,000 for the whole year, and that amount could be easily used up in three pay periods.

He said DPS incurs overtime because it lacks manpower, so the existing personnel have to work more than regular work hours.

“We’re looking at, at least $140,000 for overtime.due to the fact we’re short of manpower,” he said later.

At the budget hearing, Ogumoro and Manglona were joined by DPS Police chief Aniceto Ogumoro, Capt. Lawrence Camacho, and other DPS officials and personnel.

‘No promotions’

Ogumoro said that DPS has not had police officer promotion with pay increases for 11 years because of a public law signed in 1999.

He asked lawmakers to amend that law, so that DPS will be able to promote deserving police officers to ranks of captains and lieutenants, for example.

Ogumoro also pointed out that every time a police officer resigns or retires, the position is eliminated.

House Ways and Means Committee members led by Basa took turns asking DPS officials about the department’s funding needs. Most of the lawmakers said they support DPS and the critical role it plays in the community. But there’s no assurance, given that DPS will be given more than the governor had already given.

DPS commissioner

Ogumoro, the DPS deputy commissioner, has been designated acting DPS commissioner since March after Fitial placed former DPS commissioner Ray Mafnas on administrative leave before removing him last week.

Fitial, however, retained Mafnas as Department of Corrections commissioner.

Ogumoro said yesterday that he is still acting DPS commissioner and “I just still continue to carry out my daily assignment.”

When asked whether he would like to be DPS commissioner, he said, “If I were given the opportunity.”

The House Ways and Means Committee’s budget hearings will continue today.