By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

DEPARTMENT of Public Safety Commissioner Rebecca Warfield said she did her best to serve DPS and the community and is ready to move forward if the governor retains her.
Warfield and other cabinet officials were asked by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to hand in courtesy resignations.
“When I submitted my resignation, I submitted it knowing that the governor might accept it,” Warfield said. “He has the key responsibility and he made a lot of statements with regard to what he wants to accomplish for the people of the commonwealth.”
She added, “I know that he will be evaluating my performance to see whether or not the evolution of the Department of Public Safety is consistent with his (goals).”
Variety learned from other sources that Warfield will be retained, but she said she has not received word yet from the governor’s office.
“I’m ready to move forward if the governor continues to have confidence in me but I have to be equally prepared also if he makes a different decision,” she said.
“My commitment is to the people of the commonwealth because when I accepted this job I pledged to do everything that I could to keep them secure and it was not just a promise,” she said. “I love it here, I love the people here and I want the best for them. The governor now has to determine if the path that DPS is on is what its best for the people of the CNMI. But I can say that I’ve done my best to serve with honor and integrity the people here that I care about.”
Warfield said if she is retained, she will continue implementing her five-year plan for the department.
“Part of the plan is to increase manpower and have a successful police academy while improving the working conditions of the officers and focus on the health and well-being of the officers — we want to take a holistic approach to the department,” she said. I’ve been really impressed with the people here in the department. I think they are doing their best in facing challenges. I think we need to think of ourselves as law enforcement professionals and I want them to feel like professionals, to treat themselves as professionals and I want the community to deal with them as professionals as well and that’s my ultimate goal,” Warfield said.