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Lawmakers question GPD status‑quo budget, reduced recruit cycles and funding for SROs; Malek task force debated
Summary
Senators criticized a status‑quo fiscal plan for the Guam Police Department, questioned cuts that halve recruit cycle funding, raised concerns about sustaining school resource officers and retention bonuses, and debated Malek (interagency drug task force) staffing and impacts on other agencies.
The Guam Police Department's FY27 appropriation drew extended scrutiny. OFB reported an FY26 appropriation of roughly $60.9 million with projected lapses (millions across reporting periods) and noted available federal COPS grant balances totaling about $5.2 million across recent fiscal years that could be used for hiring.
Multiple senators objected to what they called a "status quo" GPD budget at a time of rising crime and a methamphetamine crisis. Lawmakers pressed OFB on changes to funding for police recruit cycles: OFB said prior funding requests covered a full year (about $1.2 million for a 20‑recruit cycle) but reduced the FY27 appropriation to a half‑year amount in the substitute bill because agencies told OFB their next cycle would begin in April, effectively halving near‑term cycle funding.
Senators said the change could reduce the number of recruits the island can bring on and risked undermining retention and school resource officer (SRO) programs. One senator noted the triennial retention bonus authorized in public law had not been fully funded in the substitute bill. OFB pointed to timing and implementation nuances and said some allowances and authorizations exist to use appropriations across fiscal years.
The Malek program — an interagency task force to address high‑intensity drug trafficking and coordination among law‑enforcement agencies — prompted concern that deploying officers into Malek would pull personnel from agencies already short‑staffed (e.g., DOC, airport police, customs). Proponents said Malek pools and cross‑levels personnel to create a multi‑agency capability and can improve investigations and asset forfeiture outcomes.
OFB and several senators said there is funding available for cycles and recruitment but recommended careful scheduling and coordination across agencies to avoid unintended personnel shortfalls.
Next steps: Senators flagged several amendments in later chapters and asked OFB to follow up with written clarifications on cycles, carryover authority, and the projected use of COPS grant balances.
