DPS outlines training plans and assistance to remote islands; Rota and Tinian can apply for portions of grant funding

During the budget hearing the Department of Public Safety described ongoing and planned training for officers across Saipan, Rota and Tinian and detailed recent outreach to island stations to address equipment, communications and maintenance shortfalls.

Commissioner Anthony Amekronas and Director Kay Enos said central DPS has assisted Rota and Tinian with equipment, office supplies, vehicle parts and IT needs during recent visits; Enos said the department repaired radios and paid IT balances when those local resources were insufficient. She said plans include sending logistics teams and conducting additional visits; Tinian was scheduled for a follow-up visit the week after the hearing.

Committee members raised specific training needs in Rota — firearms instructor recertification, CPR and first-aid renewals and fingerprinting training — and Enos said the department will look into those needs and noted federal-funded training opportunities (traffic investigation, fingerprinting and related programs) that will be made available to officers from the outer islands.

Academic and training requests also intersected with grant allocations: OMB said islands could seek allocations from the $3 million law-enforcement award if they submit requests and the grant is amended to break down the allocation per district.

Committee members urged coordination among DPS, municipal leaders and grant administrators to avoid duplicative training efforts and to make federal training opportunities available to all islands.