by Mindy Aguon

Guam - With a memorandum of understanding with the airport set to expire in September, the Guam Police Department could find itself homeless unless money is identified for a temporary headquarters. The current fiscal year budget does not include any funding for rental space and it's anticipated it will cost the agency between $1.5 million and $3 million depending on the availability of space.

Currently GPD's headquarters in Tiyan house eight of the department's eleven divisions and more than 200 employees.

GPD Administrative Division Chief Captain Mark Charfauros told KUAM News, "The Guam Police Department is very unique there are certain requirements that we must have for example our evidence facilities. They have to be built to certain specs and so the cost of housing a law enforcement unit is far greater than the cost of an average office building."

The Federal Aviation Administration has already put significant pressure on the Guam International Airport Authority to have GPD move out even threatening to withhold federal funding. Public Safety Chair Senator Adolpho Palacios meanwhile has suggested GPD ask for a two-year extension for the Tiyan offices to give time for the construction of a public safety headquarters.

The lawmaker has also introduced legislation for the construction of a joint GPD/GFD headquarters.