By Pauly Suba

Stephen Ignacio
While improved lighting and increased security at Tumon have been noted, there’s another growing concern that has Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio calling on the business and civilian community for help with.
Ignacio delivered a sobering address on the island’s escalating fentanyl crisis at the Guam Chamber of Commerce general meeting. “Between January to June of this year, we have had three fentanyl-related deaths in our community,” Ignacio said.
Speaking at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa on June 28, Ignacio outlined the dire situation, emphasizing the need for urgent community and law enforcement cooperation.
“In these two fentanyl deaths that were recorded out in the community, we found a presence of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine,” he said, underscoring the deadly combinations increasingly found in toxicology reports.
GPD is working with members of the tourism industry, Guam Visitors Bureau and other government agencies to help improve security in Tumon where a tourist was recently shot while vacationing in Guam. Police later confirmed that at least one of the suspects in that case had been previously arrested for illegal drug possession.
While police and GVB, through security contracts, have stepped up safety patrols in the area, Ignacio is also intent on disrupting the supply of fentanyl on the island.
“I talked to my investigators about, let’s get on these fentanyl-related deaths and look at the criminal side about who’s supplying the deadly drug,” he said. “We need to do our part as a community to get in front of it so that we can prevent more fentanyl deaths from occurring.”

Sgt. Frankie Smith Tumon Police Station is located in Guam’s largest tourism area of Tumon.
Photo by Pauly Suba
Ignacio also discussed measures to mitigate the impact of overdoses. He highlighted GPD’s initiative to equip officers with Naloxone, a medication capable of reversing opioid overdoses, commonly known as Narcan.
“At the start of the 37th Guam Legislature, one of the things that the Guam Police Department was trying to do was get legislation in place so that we can administer Naloxone,” Ignacio said. This effort culminated in legal reforms, allowing officers to carry Narcan without a prescription, aligning with the FDA’s recent decision to make it available over the counter.
Addressing the broader implications of the fentanyl crisis, Ignacio noted the installation of a Narcan vending machine in Tamuning. “It’s very troubling that now we’re having vending machines that are dispensing Narcan,” he said. “But I guess the bottom line is that should somebody need it, it’s there in the community.”
Beyond the immediate crisis, Ignacio covered a range of topics affecting the community and the police force. He praised the recent 25% pay increase for police officers but voiced concerns about its sustainability under future administrations, as it is not enshrined in law. “I believe that’s always a possibility because it’s not by law. It’s just an act of the governor,” Ignacio said. “If you want to increase force, I think you need to support the 25% increase. It does cost money, but we need police officers.”
In Tumon, enhanced lighting and improved safety measures have garnered positive feedback.
“Somebody did mention they’ve seen better lighting,” Ignacio said. As a member of the safety and security committee of the Guam Visitors Bureau and the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association, he stressed the importance of these upgrades, particularly in ensuring the functionality of surveillance cameras. “GVB is taking the lead in trying to get all the cameras working,” he said.
Responding to safety concerns in dark areas, Ignacio described the department’s proactive approach. With the recent promotion of sergeants, he implemented a new program involving walking beats and beach patrols like the Visitor Safety Officer program being funded by GVB.

Guam Police Department Chief Stephen Ignacio with Guam Chamber of Commerce board members on June 26 at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.
Photo by Pauly Suba
The difference is this new initiative will comprise of police officers. Funded by a $300,000 allocation after a Korean tourist was fatally shot along the roadside near Gun Beach in Tumon on January 4, these measures are aimed at bolstering the police presence in key areas. “We are increasing our law enforcement presence… That will be happening sometime in July,” he said, noting the role of upcoming police recruits in these efforts.
Despite these positive steps, GPD faces significant challenges in recruiting and retaining officers. Reflecting on the dangers of police work, Ignacio recounted a recent incident where young individuals shot at an officer on June 23 at around 12:57 a.m. “Just the other day, we were reminded of the dangers of being a police officer in Guam,” he said. “In my 37 years as a police officer, I’ve never seen 18 or 19-year-olds openly fire a gun at a police officer. And these guys, as far as I know, have no criminal background.”
Low pay has historically driven officers away, a problem GPD has been trying to address. Ignacio detailed the department’s efforts to increase salaries significantly. From a starting pay of $11.88 per hour in 2019, the base salary for new officers has now been raised to $17.59, with additional incentives bringing the effective rate to $21.10. “If you’re 18 years old and you’re looking for a $47,000 job at the Guam Police Department, we’ll hire you,” Ignacio said, highlighting the competitive salaries now on offer.
Despite nationwide shortages in law enforcement exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ignacio remains optimistic. “I believe that they’re in a very attractive salary, at least for our market in Guam.”