By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

GOVERNOR Benigno R. Fitial yesterday proclaimed January as NMI Crime Stoppers Month and urged the public to be part of the crime solution to help make the commonwealth a safer place in which to live.
Fitial at the same time commended the NMI Crime Stoppers program and its board of directors for helping the Department of Public Safety solve crimes.
Fitial said the Crime Stoppers Program takes the fear out of reporting information on crimes by giving the caller complete anonymity.
This, he added, works to bring offenders to justice, reduce crime, make neighborhoods safer and give victims peace of mind.
Fitial also praised DPS for doing a good job.
The governor said the department has reorganized to deploy more officers on the streets and work on cases.
“We’ve made recent arrests on major crimes that have been plaguing our community, including the copper thefts. They’re giving officers additional training in general and specialized skills and, at the same time, they’re cutting their costs such as overtime,” Fitial said.
“We, as members of this community, still need to work with DPS to stop crime. The Crime Stoppers Program only works if we make that call, so call 234-7272 or 234-PARA. PARA means “Stop” in Chamorro so I urge everyone in our community to join Crime Stoppers in putting a stop to unsolved crimes. Help make our community safer for everyone to enjoy,” Fitial said.
The local Crime Stoppers Program started in 1989. It is a non-profit organization with a civilian-run board of directors created for the sole purpose of providing an avenue for residents to turn in criminals without identifying themselves.
The current board of directors is composed of Jim Arenovski, Jim Ripple, Rick Northen and Department of Public Safety Acting spokesman Sgt. Thomas Blas Jr.
The program’s tip line operates 24 hours a day.
Most of the incoming calls are drug, burglary or robbery-related but the tip line also receives calls on domestic violence, child abuse, crimes at private business and even white collar crimes.
Crime Stoppers Program chairman Jim Arenovski said the CNMI has over 20 unsolved cases including homicides, burglaries and thefts and DPS needs the public’s help to solve these crimes.
Arenovski said only with direct input and community assistance can law enforcement officers maximize their effectiveness in fighting crime.
He said 2007 will be a challenging year for residents who need to work together to ensure the safety of everyone including businesses and tourists.
Arenovski said in 2006 alone, more than 100 calls were received by Crime Stoppers which forwarded them to DPS.
From the 100 calls, 12 arrests were made and of these arrests more than $2,000 in reward money was given to the tipsters.