MVariety.com

ACTING Department of Public Safety Commissioner Ambrosio T. Ogumoro declined to comment on the grievance complaint filed against him by a subordinate.

DPS Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela had been off-island since Tuesday.

DPS acting spokesman PO2 Jason Tarkong said he talked with Ogumoro about the complaint, but the deputy commissioner decided not to issue a reaction.

Ogumoro was not in his office when Variety visited yesterday.

Sgt. James C. Deleon Guerrero, who filed the complaint against Ogumoro, was on-leave, too, Variety learned.

In his complaint filed with Tudela, Deleon Guerrero accused Ogumoro of non-compliance with the CNMI Personnel Service System Rules and Regulations.

He said Ogumoro failed to follow CNMI government employment equal opportunity policy.

Ogumoro was also accused of harassment, abuse of authority, and hostile work environment.

Deleon Guerrero is asking DPS and the Office of Personnel Management to institute immediate corrective action to force Ogumoro to immediately cease the harassment, intimidation and the practice of subjecting DPS employees to a hostile environment.

The police sergeant is also asking DPS and OPM to institute immediate corrective action to force the department to develop policies and/or procedures preventing the harassment of Public Safety employees by management officials or other staff.

DPS and OPM should correct discriminatory practices and unfair treatment against officers and other employees, Deleon Guerrero said.

Deleon Guerrero, the longest serving DPS officer with the rank of police sergeant, also wants to remain with his current assignment, together with his staff, but “under the command of a competent supervisor and away from the jurisdiction and control” of Ogumoro.

Deleon Guerrero is the commander of the department’s Bureau of Information and Technology Applications, the officer-in-charge of the Volunteer Assistance in Police Section and the Evidence Control Unit, as well as the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Criminal Intelligence.

Deleon Guerrero, in his complaint, said Ogumoro initiated a signature petition to oust Tudela, days after Ogumoro was terminated by Tudela as deputy commissioner.

DPS personnel were being harassed and threatened by Ogumoro in signing the petition against Tudela, the complaint stated.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial reinstated Ogumoro as deputy commissioner on July 7, 2010.

In his complaint, Deleon Guerrero said Ogumoro lacks the required temperament and leadership skills to serve as deputy commissioner “as evidenced by his short fused outbursts, use of profanity, discussion of specific personnel problems, criticism of [Tudela], and..making…sexually suggestive remarks” about the governor’s wife.

“You know, when the first lady wears those sexy clothes…sometimes I wonder when the old man is gone,” Deleon Guerrero quoted  Ogumoro as saying during a DPS command staff meeting.

He likewise accused Ogumoro of ordering DPS personnel to “participate in illegal hiring activities of civil service employees without undergoing the competitive selection process, and by means of selecting candidates based on personal preferences in total and blatant disregard as to acceptable hiring practices and in complete contradiction of CNMI law and the Personnel Service System Rules and Regulations.”

Deleon Guerrero said  Ogumoro is engaged in the coercion of DPS civil service employees to perform illegal hiring practices by choosing his preferred vendors for established open accounts for repairs and other services.

This, the complaint added, is in complete contradiction to CNMI Personnel Service System Rules and Regulations, and the CNMI Procurement Rules and Regulations.

“Ultimately, this formal grievance is about restoring the integrity of the rights of DPS employees against hostile and dangerous work environments, coercion, bullying, and intimidation of DPS employees by Ogumoro,” Deleon Guerrero said.

He is hoping “that by doing the right thing, the correct way will restore the integrity of the system and the protection that should be accorded to employees is preserved for the hardworking employees of DPS.”