NMC, DPS launch Tinian Police Academy

09/29/2025 - The Northern Marianas College and Tinian Department of Public Safety inked a three-year Memorandum of Agreement last Friday to establish the Tinian Police Academy. This is the second academy cycle NMC will be running, and they expect to graduate 10 new police officers for Tinian DPS.

Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, CNMI DPS Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, and Tinian DPS Interim Resident Director Wally Villagomez, and NMC Criminal Justice Program Coordinator Zerlyn Taimanao signed the agreement with NMC leadership alongside them.

"The crisis has been for a while and...I am always ready to support your department's needs," Commissioner Macaranas said, noting that the academy would augment the current police force in Tinian. "We are looking forward to providing training that has been tailored by the college to...graduate your people in a timely manner. So that way the folks of Tinian can sleep peacefully."

Mayor Aldan noted that an increase in private sector opportunities on the island has led to some officers leaving the force. "We need to build the capacity back," Aldan said. "It is a very very needed infusion to the capacity for DPS because a lot of things are happening on Tinian."

Tinian DPS currently has 9 police officers. The CNMI Workforce Investment Agency is funding the training while the cadets are in the academy. (Marianas Press)