Law enforcement waiting for merit pay increases

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Public safety oversight chair senator Adolpho Palacios has received complaints by several law enforcement personnel on the status of the awarding of the one-step merit pay for completing the Pedro "Doc" Sanchez scholarship program. Palacios sent letters to the GPD chief of police, the GFD Fire chief, DepCor, The Guam International Airport Authority, the Port authority, the Judiciary, the Attorney General's office, the public defender's office, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Parks and Recreation questioning them about the concerns. He states public law 30-67 provides for the awarding of the merit pay increase for those entitled to it. He is now requesting for a number of employees from each public safety agency who have earned a degree but were not yet given the increase.

The Department of Administration confirms with KUAM that approximately 31 GovGuam employees got the pay increase in 2009.