New CNMI police chief emphasizes training

The Northern Mariana Islands' new police chief says his focus will be on training after a gubernatorial transition report found rampant retaliation and political discrimination under the previous administration.

There's a new top cop in town.  Clement Bermudes, Acting Commissioner of the CNMI Department of Public Safety, said, "Yes there are challenges but we got to face those challenges and issues as opportunities so we can get the department back on track and because people deserve the critical services that we provide." 

But Bermudes isn't new to the beat. He first started his career at Public Safety in the 1990s, then went on to join the military eventually retire, and resume work at the northern marianas college running its criminal justice program and as the dean of academic programs and services.

After being appointed by the Palacios-Apatang Administration as commissioner of DPS, he now inherits its problems. 

The 2022 gubernatorial transition report highlights some major issues, most during the past eight years under former commissioner Robert Guerrero. 

 

The report says there was retaliation. Cops outside of the "inner circle" who criticized or complained were reassigned to undesirable locations or jobs or even transferred to another agency.

There was alleged political discrimination. Some officers were expected to attend political events, according to the report.

And the transition team also pointing out training deficiencies. They say that as "nearly every level...there is a need for professional development." 

"One of the initiatives is to ensure that we continue training. We must always train. Case laws and courts decide different things and we must adjust the way we operate and we do that through training," he said. "And we have to build on that and sustain it. That is how we maintain competence and increase the knowledge and competence of officers that will make this a career."

KUAM asked the new police chief what his dynamic will be with the current administration, given past criticism of the former commissioner essentially serving as a personal security detail to former governor Ralph Torres. 

"I am here to ensure that I lead the department in the right direction because the people are expecting something better than it is. So, whatever happened in the past all I do is I look forward and the transparency and the trust we need to give the people of the commonwealth," he said.

The Senate has yet to schedule his confirmation hearing.