Department of Public Safety Commissioner Clyde K. Norita yesterday said they received information about three weeks ago reporting some members of the police force on Tinian are using drugs.“Based on that report, we conducted an investigation and directed four personnel from the DPS-Tinian for drug testing. The drug test came positive for marijuana on three of the four police officers,” Norita said.
He added that when the analysis of the test came back from the laboratory, the two police officers and the firefighter were stripped of their firearms, put on non-restrictive assignments or administrative court and grounded.
Norita said the three officers were served their suspension order by Internal Affairs effective yesterday.
Under the suspension order, the three officers are ordered to undergo drug counseling before they come back to work.
“If the three officers do not complete the drug counseling within the 30-day suspension period, they will be reverted to a leave until they complete the drug counseling,” Norita.
He did not disclose the names of the two police officers and the firefighter as an administrative action has been filed against them.
He added that if the police officers fail to comply with the drug testing, they will be terminated from work.
Norita said since he became commissioner, he has initiated random drug testing among police officers. He said so far, Saipan police officers who have undergone drug testing, tested negative.
