DPS to deploy 5-officer teams to Rota, Tinian as Bavi recovery continues

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas said the agency will deploy five-officer teams to Rota and Tinian to reinforce local law enforcement as recovery from Super Typhoon Bavi continues, with the additional manpower aimed at deterring theft and maintaining public safety in the storm-hit islands.

Macaranas said the deployments are intended to bolster existing police personnel, particularly on Rota, where the typhoon caused widespread devastation.

“There's already a group of officers that are ready to be deployed down to Rota to augment the existing officers down, so that they can provide public safety, law enforcement work down in Rota,” he told Marianas Press last July 9 at DPS Central Headquarters in Susupe.

He said DPS is looking at sending five officers to Rota, while another five officers have already been deployed to Tinian to support local police there. He said the added manpower would help deter theft and other crimes that could emerge during the recovery period.

Macaranas and DPS public information officer Fred Sato also offered words of encouragement to Rota residents, assuring them that officers from Saipan are preparing to assist both the community and local police officers, many of whom are themselves recovering from the storm.

“Our hearts are with them. We are working on the plans to get our officers from here deployed out there to provide the support. We understand that there may be officers on Rota that have suffered damages from Bavi. And our goal is to get the officers there as soon as possible and work with the resident director out there... to ensure that she has support while her officers on island can do their recovery and focus on their families,” said Sato.

Meanwhile, Macaranas said crime across Saipan remained relatively low before, during and immediately after Bavi as residents focused on evacuating to shelters or staying with family members. Officers, meanwhile, were busy conducting rescues and transporting residents to hospitals, shelters and their homes.

“As crime-wise, there's not much crime reported. There's a few theft cases that's been reported, but not much,” he said.

Asked whether DPS expects a repeat of the copper wire thefts that plagued Saipan after Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Macaranas said he has already raised the issue with Commonwealth Utilities Corp. officials, urging them to quickly collect downed copper lines before they can be stolen and sold for scrap.

He said he has not received reports of serious crimes on either Rota or Tinian following Bavi, although DPS continues to monitor conditions as both islands transition into recovery.

Macaranas also urged residents whose homes sustained damage from Bavi or the earlier Super Typhoon Sinlaku to secure their properties to reduce opportunities for looting and burglary.

“Once on post-typhoon, return back to your residence. Secure your property as much as you can... you have to secure the best you can to prevent any looters, any thieves to come by and grab the opportunity to get into your house,” he said.

Echoing that message, Macaranas cited Sato's longstanding reminder that criminals often take advantage of unsecured homes.

“The crime of opportunity is right there. Once you don't do anything, you didn't take the steps, the necessary measures to provide security for your property, it's an opportunity for thieves to come into the property and take what's up for grabs,” he said.

Macaranas encouraged residents to remain vigilant, board up damaged homes where possible, and take practical measures to protect their belongings while recovery efforts continue across the CNMI.