THE Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division investigated 1,699 cases, of which 295 were forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution, according to DPS’s recently released community-centric report.
DPS-CID investigated a total of 702 crimes against a person, 225 domestic-related cases, 60 sexual assault-related cases, 687 crimes against property, 23 narcotic-related cases, and two firearm-related cases.
For its part, the DPS patrol section received and responded to a total of 6,238 police calls. Of this number, 1,098 were for disturbing the peace; 184, assault and battery; 29, assault with a dangerous weapon; 113, burglary and theft; 351 thefts; seven robberies; 24 sexual assault cases; 12 illegal possession of a controlled substance; 329 other criminal response; 332 other response (non-criminal); and 3,766 non-active cases.
DPS-Highway Patrol responded to a total of 428 auto crashes, 47 DUI cases, and three theft of vehicle cases.
DPS-Boating Safety Section responded to 11 distress vessels, one stranded paddle boarder, one stranded canoe, one capsized vessel, two distressed swimmers, one distressed diver, and two overdue fishermen.
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles processed 14,475 civilian vehicles, 384 government vehicles, 84 commercial vehicles/heavy equipment (government), 909 commercial vehicles/heavy equipment, and a total of 4,666 driver’s licenses processing (new, renewal, written and driving tests).
The Highway Safety Office, in its community outreach event, inspected 74 car seats and issued 55 new car seats.
For its enforcement activities, the Highway Safety Office conducted impaired driving checkpoints: seven on Saipan and two on Rota. For the Click It or Ticket checkpoints: 18 were conducted on Saipan and 15 in Rota.
The Highway Safety Office also conducted Click It or Ticket saturation patrols/covert operations: six covert operations on Saipan, and five saturation patrols in Rota.
According to DPS, it is committed to delivering excellent service that will help make the CNMI a safer place.
The police will:
• Build public trust and confidence in the Department of Public Safety through its service and performance.
• Ensure that our residents and visitors are at the heart of everything we do.
• Be visible and accessible to the people and villages we serve.
• Work with our partners, stakeholders, and the community to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and where crime is committed, bring the offenders to justice.
• Ensure that community contact and feedback help to shape what we do and how we do it.
• Develop a modern, flexible workforce that places as many officers as possible for policing and public safety.
• Promote the value of equality and diversity in our role as a service provider and as an employer.
• Promote a culture of leadership, accountability, and innovation within our organization.
• Act with integrity to the highest professional standards of behavior.
• Use our resources to the maximum benefit of the public.
