Acting Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas delivers his remarks during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce meeting at Saipan World Resort on Wednesday, May 1.
ACTING Department of Public Safety Anthony Macaranas said his priorities include installing security cameras in Garapan, adding that he is working with the Legislature to make it happen.
One of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s guest speakers during its meeting at Saipan World Resort on Wednesday, Macaranas said a police officer stationed somewhere in the hotel district will monitor the security camera footage.
Asked if DPS will address concerns regarding “panhandlers” who ask for money or food from people at ATMs and other business establishments, he said, “The CNMI does not have a panhandling law. The best the officer can do is persuade them to leave the business establishment. But if there’s a crime being committed by those people, my officers will take the necessary steps to apprehend them and then make a report for that.”
He said he is also working to create a “crime suppression team” to combat drug activity.
The team would be deployed in “high drug areas” to “investigate and apprehend people that are dealing with drugs, that are committing any criminal activities, or about to commit criminal activities.”
Macaranas also wants to work with the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services regarding parking in the hotel district.
“Our hotel district is having problems with parking,” Macaranas said. “As you know, DFEMS kind of accumulated all the parking. I said I think there are more red curbs than yellow curbs [near hotels] so I think we need to talk and find a solution to help out our community.”
