Saipan Tribune

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

'Restoring public trust at DPS a big challenge'

Newly nominated Department of Public Safety commissioner Sgt. James C. Deleon Guerrero yesterday said restoring public trust and confidence back to DPS is one of the big challenges that the organization is currently facing.

“There's a lot of crimes that have been reported lately. I think the department needs to reach that gap between the community and the department,” Deleon Guerrero told Saipan Tribune.

Deleon Guerrero said there are a number of ways and means, which they could implement to address the problem on rising criminality.

“I look forward to finally put some concrete plans into action,” he said.

Deleon Guerrero likewise said he is grateful with his appointment to lead DPS.

Deleon Guerrero and Detective Jeffrey Olopai were responsible for the creation in 2002 of the Thief Apprehension Select Coalition, a special group at DPS that focused on solving burglary, theft, and robbery cases.

TASC is credited for 107 arrests between July 28 and Dec. 31, 2002.

Deleon Guerrero also led 25 other police officers in filing a lawsuit to protest DPS' discriminatory practices in its promotion and hiring. The court issued last year a judgment favorable to the officers' lawsuit.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on Tuesday nominated the police sergeant to serve as DPS commissioner. The appointment requires the Senate's advice and consent.

For almost a year, Fitial appointed alternately as commissioner in an acting capacity brothers Ambrosio and Aniceto Ogumoro.