Emergency hiring at DPS?

By Cassie Dlg Fejeran
Special to the Saipan Tribune

Faced with about 80 vacancies, the Department of Public Safety is asking that it be allowed to implement the emergency hiring of police offers and firefighters to fill the slots left vacant by the departure of members of the U.S. Army Reserves.

DPS Commissioner Edward Camacho said in an interview that he has asked the Legislature for help in putting into motion the emergency hiring to ensure that the delivery of service by the department’s law enforcement division is not unduly hampered.

He said the Legislature is reviewing his request and will later inform him on the matter.

In a meeting with Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano, who is currently the acting governor, Camacho said he discussed with the official options to facilitate the emergency hiring for the department.

“We were talking about a possibility of a joint resolution to assist the administration in getting our personnel on board without having to go through the normal procedure of the hiring process because it is an emergency. We are asking to go that route—the joint resolution—with the Senate and the House,” said Camacho.

A total of 21 officers and firefighters at DPS left for reservist training in Hawaii. Combined with the previous vacancies that have not been filled yet, the department now suffers a shortage of more than 80 officers.

Tinian and Rota is also requesting for assistance in additional firefighters and police officers.

In his request, Camacho asked for 20 new cadets that will undergo three months of training to replenish the shortage at DPS.

“I also asked for 10 firefighters and couple for positions like a carpenter, maintenance personnel, and vehicle registration specialist,” he added.

Camacho is calling on interested individuals to start applying now. He is also urging retired officers to return to DPS, citing the valuable experience they will bring to the force.

“I’m also looking at the recent high school graduates and college graduates to try the opportunity. Our profession—law enforcement, firefighting, Corrections officer—is a very honorable profession and I encourage people to get into the law enforcement fields. I say this because those who do learn the law, learn to respect it as well, especially if they have to go out and set the example themselves,” said Camacho.

“It’s about public service. We should help our community,” he added.

The shortage came about after the Pentagon issued a call-up last week on all members of the U.S. Army Reserves to beef up American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.