by Nick Delgado

Guam - SWAT was activated, negotiators called in, officers on scene and internal affairs. News out of the Guam Police Department involving a high-ranking officer and a police officer but unfortunately, not a whole lot of details are being released.

It was a busy scene last night down south as Guam Police responded to a disturbance that involved a couple of their own. A residence along Flores Rosa Street in Windward Hills is where an apparent domestic argument involving two uniformed police officers happened around 7pm Thursday evening. GPD Spokesperson Officer A.J. Balajadia said, "Two officers were at that location, officers responded to a disturbance in Windward Hills and Internal Affairs was on scene and has taken over the investigation."

Although GPD isn't releasing specific information KUAM News has learned that there was an argument between a police captain and a Police Officer III. There's no official word on what prompted the dispute, but KUAM News has learned the Police Officer III threatened to cause harm to herself. "I know there was some activation with some of our personnel, SWAT and negotiations team as well, whether or not if they were needed at that scene is not clear and has not been made clear to me."

GPD is not releasing the name of the police officer that has been with the force for the past 16 years, or the name of the police captain that was present during the incident. GPD however has placed the PO3 on 20 work days administrative leave, and confiscated the officer's duty weapon. "So that the officer can take care of some personal issues," said Balajadia.

Public Safety Oversight Chair Senator Adolpho Palacios reacts to the incident that is now part of an IA investigation, saying, "It appears to me that the symptoms of some internal problems at GPD is not settled, the causes is not settled and those are signs of a larger issue, somebody has to take control of this."

He adds these situations are why the empanelling of the Police Review Commission was important. Yigo mayor Bob Lizama is one of the commission members, and said, "These are challenges and issues perhaps the commission will be facing. It's a sad day for our island to hear of such action that's happen involving two of our officers at the Guam Police Department." The mayor added, "It's even tougher having to deal with internal matters while at the same time having to battle the external issues facing the island."

In the meantime, Balajadia said, "The chief of police takes this incident just as serious as any of the other incidents where he's actually carried out disciplinary action on officers after the IA has been completed."

KUAM News also spoke with retired GPD colonel Joaquin Torre on these very issues plaguing GPD. He says the problem is top management, a lack of discipline, proper training, and lack of respect for department rules and regulations. The retired colonel adds the force is 100% different from his days.