Sen. Shawn Gumataotao called for greater transparency and sustained investment in the Guam Police Department following an oversight hearing held Tuesday afternoon, citing staffing shortages, unspent funds and critical infrastructure needs. In a media statement issued Feb. 10, Gumataotao said the hearing underscored the need to strengthen GPD through additional officers, support personnel and essential resources, including precincts, vehicles, equipment and supplies.
Gumataotao said the Legislature bears responsibility for funding GPD but stressed that lawmakers rely on accurate and transparent information from both the department and the executive branch. According to executive branch financial reports, GPD had approximately $8 million in unexpended funds as of Sept. 30, 2025, out of an estimated $50 million in authorized FY 2025 appropriations. During the hearing, GPD testified it currently has 201 vacancies, representing an estimated unfunded cost of $8.8 million.
In addition to personnel shortages, GPD officials told lawmakers the department requires funding to replace its crime lab’s HVAC system, which Gumataotao described as a critical operational need. He said his committee will continue working with GPD in the coming weeks and months to develop policies that strengthen police services for Guam’s roughly 170,000 residents.
Gumataotao highlighted measures advanced by the committee over the past 13 months, including policies prioritizing unused public land for new precincts and an emergency communications center, temporary POST certification for eligible applicants and improvements to the island’s emergency reporting system. He also thanked Police Chief Stephen Ignacio and his command staff for their continued cooperation, praising the officers and staff of GPD for their work protecting life and property across Guam’s 19 municipalities.