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‘Termination was for best interest of DPS’
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Posted on Apr 30 2006
Governor Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez explained that their decision Friday to terminate Ernest Mark Williams as Department of Public Safety commissioner “was made in the best interests of DPS and for the sake of public safety.”
In confirming Saipan Tribune’s Saturday banner story about the termination, Fitial and Villagomez, through press secretary Charles Reyes, cited that Williams failed to establish a good working relationship with his subordinates, including the key command officers in the department.
“The administration will seek a replacement for the position,” said Reyes in an e-mail to the Saipan Tribune Saturday night.
The press secretary said Fitial and Villagomez have pledged to find a highly qualified and highly ethical commissioner with good interpersonal communication and effective human relations skills to serve DPS well and boost officers’ morale.
Meanwhile, Reyes said former Department of Corrections acting secretary Ramon C. Mafnas will serve as acting DPS commissioner until another appointment is secured with Senate approval.
Mafnas, who is currently Fitial’s senior policy adviser, has a background in criminal justice, according to Reyes.
Sources disclosed Friday night that Fitial and Villagomez fired Williams after the DPS command staff complained about how he ran the department.
Sources said that after listening to the complaints raised by about 20 ranking DPS officials, Fitial and Villagomez asked Williams if he would resign.
When Williams responded that he would not step down, the governor reportedly informed that that he is “terminating him now.”
The Senate confirmed Williams on March 14.
