Cop accuses CSC of OGA violation

A Department of Public Safety officer who previously filed grievances against the department with the Civil Service Commission has appealed to the Superior Court the commission’s final decision that dismissed his grievances, alleging violation of the Open Government Act.

Sgt. Peter Raymond Camacho, through his lawyers, Robert Torres and Oliver Manglona, has appealed the commission’s decision denying the grievances he filed against DPS, alleging that the commission violated his rights, as well as the Open Government Act.

According to Camacho’s lawyers, the commission violated Camacho’s substantive and procedural due process rights by failing to notify him of a Dec. 5, 2023, special meeting and depriving him the opportunity for his grievances to be heard.

In addition, Camacho’s lawyers claim that the commission decided to unanimously deny Camacho’s grievances after deliberating in an executive session that’s away from the public and thus violating the CNMI Open Government Act.

“Because the commission’s deliberation of Sgt. Camacho’s grievances was held in secrecy and the record produced by the commission does not contain the meeting minutes or records of the commission’s deliberation, Sgt. Camacho is unaware of the basis supporting the commission’s decision,” states the appeal.

“Additionally, the commission’s failure to provide record and documents of its committee meetings that involved Sgt. Camacho grievances violated the Open Government Act, which requires that committee minutes be noticed and open to the public,” the appeal added.

DPS was also named a party in the appeal, as Camacho claims DPS also violated his due process rights by allegedly precluding him from applying for a salary increase.

“DPS violated Sgt. Camacho’s substantive due process rights by precluding him from applying for the merit-based salary increase in DPS’ examination announcement nos. 20-01 7 and 20-025 when he is a top qualifying candidate under those announcements and is an active, permanent civil service employee in the government,” said the appeal.

Camacho also alleges that DPS selected unqualified candidates for the salary increase, violating the open, competitive selection policies of the CSC’s rules and regulations.

“Specifically, DPS selected ineligible and unqualified candidates for announcement nos. 20-017 and 20-025 who did not meet the qualification requirements under those announcements and in doing so, violated the open, competitive selection policies of the Civil Service’s Personnel System Rules and Regulations,” said the appeal.