NMC, CPA sign MOA launching Ports Police Academy

The Northern Marianas College and the Commonwealth Ports Authority signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement that effectively launched the 2024 Ports Police Academy.

NMC president Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, CPA board chair Joe Ayuyu, and CPA executive director Leo Tudela gathered at the NMC conference room yesterday to sign the MOA that would establish this year’s Ports Police Academy.

With the MOA, this year’s academy would be the first Ports Police academy that would put cadets through Ports Police training while also taking classes at NMC to accrue credits toward a degree in criminal justice.

Deleon Guerrero said this MOA ensures that cadets of the CNMI’s law enforcement agencies have the specialized skills and training needed to carry out their jobs.

“We have done this with other law enforcement agencies like the Department of Public Safety, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Customs and Biosecurity, and now CPA Ports Police. NMC is here to make sure that our workforce has the skills and training it needs to get the job done, especially when it’s specialized skills in fields like this. It takes a lot of focus. Stick with it. It’s going to get hard, but nothing is hard with determination. I wish you all the best,” he said.

CPA Ports Police chief Juan T. Dela Cruz said this MOA raises the bar for future cadets that will undergo training to become Port Police officers.

“I thank the whole team, NMC, [and] CPA board of directors for supporting this milestone project. The journey that led us here today started back in 2018. This has been something we have always wanted to provide cadets entering CPA. We wanted to raise the bar of this academy by including curriculum provided by NMC. This is a well-rounded effort between CPA’s training team, NMC, and everyone else involved. I can’t thank you all enough. The sky is now the limit. I wish you all the best of luck,” he said.

Ayuyu said that CPA, despite its financial struggles, was determined to find a way to financially support cadets who will go through NMC as he believes education is the key to the further success of CPA’s Ports Police department.

“This academy is to prepare for the future and these cadets are the future of our organization. This is the key to success. So listen and make sure to come to class as this is an opportunity to improve yourself,” said Ayuyu.

CPA currently has about 11 cadets currently enrolled in its Port Police Academy.