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Source: Fitial sacks Williams
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Posted on Apr 28 2006
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial reportedly terminated yesterday Department of Public Safety commissioner Ernest Mark Williams after the DPS command staff complained about how he ran the department, the Saipan Tribune learned last night.
Reliable sources said that after listening to the complaints raised by about 20 ranking DPS officials, Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez asked Williams if he would resign.
When Williams answered he would not step down, the governor reportedly informed him that he is “terminating him now.”
Contacted by Saipan Tribune, Press Secretary Charles Reyes admitted he has heard about this but that he was not present at the meeting and has not seen any documentation to effect the termination.
“I don’t know the details. I haven’t fully briefed with the issue,” he pointed out.
Sources said the command staff members had complained that DPS is “falling apart” because of the low morale of personnel under the leadership of Williams.
“He [Williams] doesn’t get along with the command staff, including his own deputy commissioner [Juan Wabol],” one source said.
Fitial and Villagomez first appointed Wabol as DPS commissioner. The administration later tapped Williams as new commissioner and made Wabol the deputy commissioner.
The Senate confirmed Williams on March 14.
In January it was reported that the commissioner’s position had created a big discussion within the Fitial transition team after Williams, a member of U.S. Army, was tossed among two contenders.
Sources in the transition team disclosed that Wabol, then of the Fire Division, emerged as the top favorite for the commissioner’s position.
Williams, who was then based in the U.S. mainland, was recommended by a member of the transition committee.
Williams is the son-in-law of Martin Manglona, chairman of the transition committee.
