Norita wants only 1 cop as funeral escort

To reduce the burden on police officers and save on government resources, Department of Public Safety commissioner Claudio K. Norita wants only one police officer to act as escort and control the traffic flow in funerary corteges.

Any additional request for officers or vehicles shall be charged the necessary service fee, said Norita in a directive he issued last week and released to the media yesterday.

“Our limited manpower and vehicles have forced us to re-think the service we provide for funeral escorts,” he explained.

Before the directive, DPS spokesperson Lei Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune, the department had been assigning three to five marked vehicles as funeral escorts.

The commissioner said the frequency of funerals and use of multiple patrol cars and personnel has tied down DPS’ emergency personnel on non-emergency assignments such as funeral escorting.

Effective immediately, Norita said, DPS will provide only one marked police vehicle or police motorcycle to lead a funerary cortege.

He said no other personnel shall be used for traffic control at traffic light intersections or any other intersections.

“The motorcade shall follow all traffic laws, including traffic signal lights and intersection control,” Norita said.

The commissioner said the need to hold or divert traffic is not necessary as the motorcade is non-emergency and is not required to travel in speeds above the posted speed limit.

“All vehicles involved in the motorcade shall be advised by the assigned officer to stay within the posted speed limit and follow all traffic signal and signs,” said Norita. He directed the DPS Traffic Section to conduct a public education campaign on the new policy.