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Acting Tinian police chief asks House for 10 officers, training and travel budget
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Summary
Acting director of the Department of Public Safety on Tinian told the House that staffing is down, patrol coverage is stretched and the department seeks funding for 10 cadet positions, communications and operational supplies; members asked for documentation on promotions and revolving‑fund balances.
Sergeant Wally Villegomez, acting director of the Tinian Department of Public Safety, told the House budget committee that his force is currently staffed with 10 officers and faces additional departures that will reduce that number further. He requested funding to recruit and train 10 full‑time equivalent police positions to restore patrol capacity and improve emergency response.
Villegomez said the department plans recruitment beginning June 23, 2025, with the Workforce Investment Agency (WEA) supplying cadet funding for one year so candidates can begin police‑academy training. “Funding for additional 10 full time equivalent ... positions is absolutely vital,” Villegomez said, citing increased population, construction and traffic tied to military‑related activity and new residents.
The department also requested operational and communications funding: the budget materials show a communications line near $17,574, a utilities cushion (the department is currently on prepaid service, with the mayor covering utility bills), $40,000 for operational supplies (gear and equipment), $20,000 for overtime and $10,000 for travel. Villegomez told the committee the mayor’s office has been covering officer travel for detainee escorts, court hearings and other interisland duties; he asked that a dedicated travel line be established in the DPS budget so those costs do not fall to the mayor.
Finance staff reported the department’s motor‑vehicle revolving fund balance as $7,490.90 but noted overexpenditures in the project ledger that produced a net negative total of roughly $14,000. Committee members asked for reconciled ledgers; the mayor’s office representative said the mayor has statutory expenditure authority over municipal departments and can reprogram funds within those local limits but committee members asked for clarity and assurance that revenue collected by DPS (for citations, motor vehicle fees and similar receipts) be retained to support services such as Real ID implementation.
Members raised a personnel‑action question about promotions and internal restructuring. Villegomez said OPM previously told a candidate that she would need to resign to apply for a higher rank rather than be promoted in place; members requested documentary proof of the OPM interpretation and asked the department and OPM to provide a paper trail so the legislature can resolve whether internal promotions can be implemented without forcing officers to resign.
Operational context and equipment: Villegomez said DPS has six functional vehicles and 10 officers; some shifts have only one officer on duty, forcing overtime and off‑duty calls. The department reports communications coverage gaps on the north side of Tinian and relies partially on hospital radio infrastructure in some areas. Villegomez said the department runs four shifts and sometimes uses off‑duty officers or managerial staff to fill gaps; he described pay and retention challenges and the need to re‑structure ranks to create a sustainable career ladder for officers.
Ending: Committee members urged prompt financial reconciliation, requested documentation from OPM about the promotion/resignation issue, and asked the mayor’s office to confirm whether revolving‑fund receipts remain with DPS to support operations such as Real ID.
