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Williams checks DPS overtime to avoid abuse
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Posted on Apr 27 2006
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Ernest Mark Williams is closely monitoring the overtime incurred by DPS personnel as part of the administration’s cost-saving measures.
“I am monitoring personally every pay period all the time,” said Williams, citing that if he has inquiries about certain overtime he calls the supervisors to his office to explain.
He, however, pointed out that sometimes overtime would go up whenever there are big events coming up such as the Flame Tree Festival and the Micronesian Games.
“But for the most part we make sure that our officers don’t abuse the overtime system,” said the commissioner in an interview with the Saipan Tribune.
With respect to spending, DPS has been using a lot of federal grants particularly for travel expenses during off-island trainings.
“For any off-island travel that we do, none of the money comes out from the CNMI. It’s all 100 percent federally funded. We are saving the CNMI great deal of money as far as trips are concerned,” he said.
William said some equipment and computer system that go to DPS are all obtained through federally funded grants.
“So we are not incurring any additional cost for the CNMI due to our current state,” he stressed.
The commissioner said the shortage of staff is the reason why overtime is going up.
“ If we fill up 100 percent of our positions then overtime will go down. So it would be a great idea when we go for the next year’s budget to try to fill up all FTEs [full-time employees] that are currently vacant. If we get everybody that we need, then overtime will naturally take its course and go down,” he said.
Williams said there is still overtime, but the department has to be smart and creative in initiating cost-saving measures.
“It would be a challenge, but I think we will be able to manage the people that we have and make sure that the quality of service to the CNMI doesn’t diminish at all,” he added.
