The grant will be used to fund the programs of the task force which include building a partnership with the community to reduce crime.
Jerome Ierome, CJPA executive director, informed Neighborhood Watch Task Force member and Saipan Municipal Council Chairwoman Antonia M. Tudela that the grant “is subject to all administrative and financial requirements, including timely submission of all financial and programmatic reports, resolution of all interim audit findings, and the maintenance of a minimum cash-on-hand.”
He said their office will notify the task force about the grant award after the processing and approval of the special condition documents.
The task force aims to instill a greater sense of security in the community and “putting the neighbor back in neighborhood.”
The program will allow residents to be better prepared to respond to any suspicious activity, gain greater access to criminal activity information, know their neighbors, and allow other issues of concerns to be addressed, Tudela said.
The program was created by Saipan Municipal Ordinance 9-01-2007 and aims to enhance the safety, security and protection in the villages of the island.
Task Force officials want everyone in the community, regardless of ages and gender, to get themselves involved in its programs.
Sgt. Vicente H. Sablan of the Department of PubliC Safety is the chairman of the task force.
Its officers are DPS Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela for Precinct 1, William Santos for Precinct 2, Manny Mangarero for Precinct 3 and Danny Sablan for Precinct 4.
The task force has started disseminating a “community-oriented policing neighborhood survey to determine the real situation of community members…in terms of peace and order problems.”
The survey asks individuals how safe it is to walk in their neighborhood after dark, as well as their primary concerns regarding criminal and nuisance activities in their villages.
The survey likewise asked about any problems involving graffiti vandalism, juveniles, prostitution, public drinking, gangs, vendors, loud parties, abandoned cars, narcotics, thefts and transients in the villages.
