In the CNMI, a domestic violence incident involving a Department of Corrections officer prompts its commissioner to revisit the policy allowing government issued guns to be taken home off the job.

The agency is re-evaluating its policy allowing officers to bring their guns home after one of them was charged with domestic violence. Corrections Officer Anthony Cruz faces charges of domestic violence, disturbing the peace, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to a police press release, on April 9, the 47-year-old was picked up by his girlfriend at the Department of Corrections after work when they started arguing about money on their way to their family compound. The report says that when they arrived, the officer took his government issued firearm, pointed it at her head and said "this is what you want." Cruz is now detained at DOC.

The Department of Public Safety says his firearm and three magazines and ammunition were confiscated as evidence.

 

The incident prompting the new commissioner to take action.  Anthony Torres Commissioner, CNMI Dept. of Corrections, said, "Last week Monday, I made the decision to recall all service issued firearms. So I am still in the process of reviewing policy...with staff taking it home...this is the first institution that I have worked for where staff can take home their service issued firearms."

CNMI's DOC has 124 personnel who are given service issued firearms after they're sworn in. 

"If you are not in special unit or assignment then all staff are obligated to return it to the armory and the next day if they are on duty if they are assigned to an escort trip...then they can proceed to take their service issued weapons," he said.

Torres says the initial policy could have been from when DOC was under DPS. Public safety chief Clement Bermudes told KUAM News that police officers are allowed to bring their firearms home "unless under investigation or disciplinary action."