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Rota police report vacancies, aging vehicles and communication gaps to House committee
Summary
Rota's resident head of Public Safety described multiple vacancies, dated patrol vehicles and lack of radios as operational risks; lawmakers and OMB signaled they can proceed with hiring funded positions and urged rapid action to avoid losing budget authority.
Christine Cabrera, resident department head for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in Rota, and Capt. Noel Cabo testified June 5 about persistent vacancies, broken patrol vehicles and limited communications equipment that constrain policing and emergency response.
Cabrera said DPS had multiple vacancies and that OMB had recently lifted a hiring blackout that had delayed filling funded positions. OMB later confirmed 10 vacancies for the department, seven of which are funded and three unfunded. Cabrera said the department is seeking reclassification and promotion opportunities to create supervisory PO‑3 posts to help career progression and retention.
"We do not have any working radios," Capt. Cabo told lawmakers, describing reliance on personal cell phones for official communications and the safety risks when responding to armed or remote‑area calls. Committee members and OMB staff discussed options including upgrading communications, using grant funds and repurposing federal award money recently announced for law enforcement operations. The committee noted a $3 million award from the Office of Insular Affairs intended for law‑enforcement needs; OMB said the award has not been formally received and that allocations are currently tied to Saipan but could be repurposed to support Rota and Tinian with executive approval.
Why it matters: Staffing, reliable vehicles and radio communications are core elements of public safety. Witnesses warned that broken vehicles, limited coverage and training shortfalls reduce the department's ability to respond to emergencies, enforce law in rural areas and protect officers.
Key details: - Vacancies and hiring: OMB reported 10 total vacancies for Rota DPS (7 funded, 3 unfunded). The mayor's office and DPS said they plan to reclassify some positions to create higher grades and supervisory posts to improve promotion pathways. - Vehicles: DPS has six GMC Terrain patrol vehicles; only two are fully operable and several require work beyond local shops' capacity. Capt. Cabo and the RD requested trucks better suited to island terrain or funding to replace or repair vehicles off‑island. - Communications and equipment: DPS uses personal phones for many field communications; the department requested radios, in‑vehicle communications and other protective equipment. Capt. Cabo emphasized that officers are performing dangerous work and need reliable equipment. - Grant opportunity: Committee members noted the announced $3 million federal allocation for law enforcement operations; OMB said the award paperwork was not yet final and that the governor's office could repurpose portions to Rota and Tinian.
Committee response: Members pressed DPS to move quickly to fill funded positions and to work with OPM and OMB on reclassification so vacancies are not lost in future budget cycles. Lawmakers encouraged DPS, the mayor and OMB to prioritize communications upgrades and to seek grant or central funding to avoid relying on local revolving accounts.
