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Deployment of 32 personnel is affecting DPS’ operations
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Posted on Jun 30 2008
The scheduled deployment of 32 police officers and firefighters to the Middle East is beginning to affect operations at the Department of Public Safety, with some of these personnel already taking their leave.
DPS Commissioner Claudio Norita told Saipan Tribune yesterday that as of last Thursday he already received copies of 20 deployment orders.
“So we’re helping them process their military leave and annual leave. I think the order was for July 14,” Norita said.
“But some of them are already on leave. They’re taking off to spend more time with their family,” he said. “It is affecting us now.”
Particularly affected are the patrol and traffic units, Norita said.
The commissioner said when the deployment order came, DPS was just lucky that Saipan had a reserved volunteer group for the Hotshots.
To address the manpower shortage, Norita said they already planned this ahead of time. As example, he cited the elimination of some of the secondary programs.
Norita, however, stressed that DPS is going to incur overtime.
“But at least if I can expedite the [police and fire] academy and graduate the class before the end of August or middle of September then I will be able to restore normal operations,” the commissioner said.
Norita earlier told Saipan Tribune that the departure of the personnel means that the department will be consuming overtime to cover the officers that are gone.
“The overtime will increase between July and August 2008,” Norita said.
Aside from 20 new police officers and 15 firefighters, DPS is also hiring five civilian dispatchers.
