Previous Story
DPS draws up security plan for New Year’s celebration
|
Posted on Dec 30 1999
The Department of Public Safety yesterday eased fears of the public that its communication system will be knocked down by the millennium computer glitch during the crossover thus affecting its response to emergency situations.
Clyde Norita, chief of office for special services of the department, said telecommunications experts are almost done with their work in ensuring that the 911 system does not malfunction during the New Year’s Day revelry.
“We have been assured by the Y2K Task Force and Motorola that the repeater will not fail us,” Mr. Norita said, “Based on that we don’t think it’s going to happen. But if that does happen, we have prepared a contingency plan,” he added. The alternate plan, he said, includes limited radio communications available on certain parts of the island.
But should there be a total breakdown in the DPS communication system, he assured the public that police units will be on standby to respond to emergencies.
“Maybe it would affect our response time but it does not mean that we’re not going to respond,” he said, adding that it will take about four to 12 hours to restore the department’s communication system.
Meanwhile, Mr. Norita said police force has created a unified command who will oversee that peace and order are maintained during the New Year’s celebration.
He said the special police units will be activated beginning 6:00 p.m. Friday up to Jan. 3rd to ensure protection of the community from any untoward incident. “We have units on alert, on standby, as well as those on active duty to ensure safety,” the DPS official said.
He also said that a contingency plan for Tinian has been put in place where 3,000 are expected to arrive for the Tinian 2000 celebration. (Lucy Rosario)
