ACTING Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony I. Macaranas has withdrawn the notice of proposed adverse action for termination issued against Police Sgt. Peter R. Camacho.
In a letter dated Feb. 15 to Camacho, Macaranas said, “The termination letter issued to you on Dec.14, 2023, and served to you on Jan. 9, 2024, is hereby withdrawn. Therefore, the informal administrative conference that was rescheduled from Feb. 7, 2024, to Feb. 15, 2024, is now canceled and will not be rescheduled.”
“However, the Personnel Order No. 2024-010 that I issued to you on Feb. 1, 2024, is still in effect. As noted in the order, you have been reassigned to the patrol section under the division of police,” Macaranas said.
“We look forward to your return and your assistance with the important work at DPS,” he added.
Then-DPS Commissioner Clement Bermudes received a letter from Gov. Arnold I. Palacios dated Dec. 22, 2023, instructing him to reassign Camacho to the Marianas Regional Fusion Center or MRFC.
“This is to address the recent disciplinary and seemingly retaliatory actions against Sgt. Peter Camacho, which contravened my directives and continues to be an issue,” the governor told Bermudes.
“Despite my explicit instructions regarding Sgt. Camacho’s assignment at MRFC…, he was purposely issued an AWOL notice and subjected to unwarranted punitive measures. This inconsistency in following my direct instructions and the treatment of Sgt. Camacho is concerning and unacceptable,” Palacios added.
“To be clear, effective immediately, I am hereby ordering the reassignment of Sgt. Peter Camacho to the Marianas Regional Fusion Center … under the direct supervision of Chief Lawrence Camacho. Compliance with this order is mandatory and non-negotiable,” Palacios said.
Camacho has accused the Civil Service Commission of violating his due process rights by failing to notify him of its Dec. 5, 2023 special meeting, and depriving him of the opportunity to be heard on his grievances.
Camacho, through attorneys Robert T. Torres and Oliver Manglona, filed an administrative appeal in Superior Court regarding the commission’s final decision that dismissed his grievances against DPS.
On Jan. 26, 2024, the governor asked then-Commissioner Bermudes to resign. Palacios later issued a statement saying he could not comment further as it was a personnel matter.
