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Guam - While some crime has been prevented in villages due to the enforcement of neighborhood watch programs, more can still be done.


"We always see that's its important especially with the challenges of crimes that are in the community whether it be property crime or crimes of violence that our communities are safe," noted chief of police Fred Bordallo. He is referring to the neighborhood watch programs, an effort coordinated in some of the island's villages. It was the topic of discussion at Wednesday's Mayor's Council of Guam meeting where Bordallo noted a smarter sense of policing is needed and that involves a stronger presence of security.


"And as I said looking at the salary of a armed security guard, it won't take that much, if each mayor looks at their staffing and takes a look at part of this crime watch, that you have a security, what we would called a mayor security force."


And while he says it would involve budgetary research, what exactly would a mayor security force entail? "If it happens to be one of our Police Reserve officers who is working as that security guard, and I discussed this also with the superintendent of the Department of Education, especially when you have their school resource officers. In that same concept, this would send a very strong message among the community the people in the neighborhoods besides crime watch volunteers in your neighborhood, you'll have a security presence that might be there actually part of the mayors force but working together with GPD," he explained.


Mayors Council president and Agana Heights mayor Paul McDonald in the meantime says the Village Watch Program has actually solved crimes. He however raised disappointment in GPD's lack of response, specifically to a burglary of his office a few weeks back. "The program would work if the police department would support our program we have pictures of crimes that were committed with individuals and we provided to this police department and there is no follow up," he said.


He however believes a mayor security force could work, saying, "It's just frustrating if we don't' have the support but I am happy to know that maybe this will be a start to move on and get this program working the way it's supposed to be but it's about time that we concentrate on the neighborhood watch."


Bordallo in the meantime offered his commitment to the mayors for more support and following up on important leads.