Under the CNMI Department of Public Safety is the Tactical Response Enforcement Team (T.R.E.T). T.R.E.T. is a collateral duty for all team members with each member serving full time assignments in various positions in the department. These assignments include Patrol, Traffic, Criminal Investigation, Armory, and Community Oriented Policing System (C.O.P.S.). To become a member of T.R.E.T., officers go through an initial training phase with emphasis on building entries. Members are expected to be proficient with firearms and have thorough knowledge of department polices and procedures.

T.R.E.T. members are cross-trained in all team assignments to enhance team effectiveness. The team prepares to assume full control of specific tactical situations which by nature is considered dangerous and complex, or would require the use of a specialized team effort rather than independent actions by individual officers. Tactics employed by the team reflect police strategy of handling and dealing with situations involving confrontations with potentially dangerous suspects. The team’s primary mission is to save lives. Studies have proven that high risk operations handled by well equipped and trained tactical teams result in fewer deaths and injuries to officers, citizens, and suspects than during operations handled without them.

T.R.E.T. is generally activated to respond to tactical situations that are deemed high risk and/or require specialized training and equipment. A non-violent resolution is the ultimate goal. T.R.E.T. members approach their duties with a high level of confidence, motivation, and flexibility. All operations are conducted with the greatest regard for the preservation of life. T.R.E.T. is committed to the safe resolution of all critical incidents and approaches each situation in a professional and controlled manner with an emphasis on a negotiated resolution. T.R.E.T. acknowledge their dependence upon one another and work as a team in an atmosphere of trust, confidence and open communication.