‘War on ice will be long, dangerous, expensive’
A campaign to minimize—if not eradicate—the proliferation of methamphetamine or “ice” will be “long, dangerous, and expensive.”
This is according to Department of Public Safety Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero during a budget hearing at the Senate chamber on Capital Hill yesterday.
A visibly emotional Deleon Guerrero again pleaded to lawmakers to increase his department’s budget, which he said will allow the DPS to properly carry out its duties.
He, along with other senior officers of the DPS, faced member of the Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs chaired by Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian).
The DPS has requested a budget of $7.2 million, which is way higher than the administration’s proposal of $4.5 million.
“The war on ice is long, dangerous, and expensive,” Deleon Guerrero said, stressing that the DPS would need more training, more people, and dedicated legal counsel.
The police chief said “ice” is on the DPS’ top list of priorities, along with preparations for a “booming” tourism industry, and preparations for a soon-to-emerge gaming industry, highlighted by the opening of Saipan’s first casino in Garapan.
Deleon Guerrero said the DPS needs to have the necessary staff, the necessary expertise to deal with all the developments happening in the CNMI.
“I can’t work with (a budget of) $4.5 million,” Deleon Guerrero told lawmakers bluntly, when asked if he has a “Plan B” should the DPS fail to get its $7.2 million budget.
The police chief’s budget request included allocations for 20 more police officers, a dedicated legal counsel, and a counselor.
Currently, the DPS “shares” a legal counsel provided by the Attorney General’s Office, with the Board of Parole.
Deleon Guerrero specifically cited the legal counsel’s role of updating the DPS’ employee handbook, which has been in use since 1985.
“The DPS is perhaps the most liability prone agency in the CNMI. The government has to deal with costly settlements,” he said, adding that this concern can be directly addressed by an updated handbook.
‘Eye-opener’
Hofschneider, meanwhile said “it was an eye-opener” after hearing the police chief’s recommendations and his report on the current state of the DPS.
“We are trying to get fund sources outside the general appropriations that we can tap into, so that we will be able to come up with a more clear budget for DPS,” he said.
Back in June, Deleon Guerrero practically begged lawmakers to give his department the necessary budge.
“I’m not just asking, I’m begging,” Deleon Guerrero said.
In the budget presentation, the DPS said it is earmarking a big chunk of the budget, about $5.1 million, for personnel, and $1.6 million for operations.
Clean up the DPS first!! Until you make positive and honest attempts to address your own in house drug problems you will not get much.
You have to clean house and not just on the drug front from within but with the other crimnal acts that so many of the Dept is involved in.
This also goes for Customs, clean up you guys act also. Start by drug testing all along with the other Govt elected and Dept heads and employees. Until this happens no progress will be made on any attempts to get rid of this ICE. as so many Govt employees are involved.
That is why only the Chinese are arrested (majority of the time) The locals arrested are only small users and sellers, NOT the big fish. DPS is protecting the big Chinese and local suppliers.
When the Feds are involved in a bust if any of the DPS or other Govt agencies know about it the big boys are warned off.
Yours first wanna be!
Primo,
The United States of America spent billions of dollars each year to eradicate or stop drugs from entering its borders, but there is a demand for illicit drugs in the U.S. and that equates to more supply. The United States is losing its battle against street drugs and no amount of money would stop the flow of supply. The extra three million dollars you are asking would not put a dent on the supply of illegal drugs in the CNMI, you should learn from our dearest Uncle Sam predicament. Like the Captain said below, you need to clean house and get rid of your employees who are involve in the drug trade in the CNMI.