Guam committee hears bill to let police hire in-house attorney; attorney general warns of constitutional risk

Hagatna, Guam — The Guam Legislature’s Committee on Public Safety, Emergency Management and Guam National Guard held a public hearing July 24 on Bill 158-38 COR, a measure that would add a new subsection to chapter 77, title 10 and repeal a provision of Public Law 30-202 to authorize the Guam Police Department (GPD) to hire its own attorney.

The issue drew sharp contrast between the Guam Police Department and the Office of the Attorney General. Steven C. Ignacio, chief of police, urged restoration of GPD’s prior authority and cited delays and operational gaps; Attorney General Douglas Moylan called the bill “patently unconstitutional” and said allowing departments to hire private attorneys would erode prosecutorial authority and increase costs, though Moylan offered to recruit an attorney dedicated to GPD if the legislature funds the position.

BBMR fiscal note, GPD estimate

The Bureau of Budget and Management Research provided a fiscal note dated July 14, 2025, saying the proposed legislation would permit GPD to employ its own attorney but that no funding source is identified. The Guam Police Department supplied an…