Corrections officer under investigation for promoting prison contraband
A DepCor officer reporting for duty may be spending more time at this job than he probably expected.
February 23, 2015Updated: February 23, 2015
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Krystal Paco
Guam - It's the last person you would think would ever be caught trying to smuggle in contraband into the Department of Corrections, but DepCor launches an investigation into one of their own.
A Department of Corrections officer reporting for duty Monday morning may be spending more time at this job than he probably expected.
Agency spokesman Lieutenant Jeff Limo said, "An unannounced bag search was conducted early this morning at the main compound in Mangilao and unfortunately one of the officers was pulled and given, or should I say was taken in, by Internal Affairs for an investigation." According to Limo, the officer was found to be promoting prison contraband.
Monday's unannounced bag search included whatever the officers were carrying into duty as well as a search of their vehicles.
As of newstime, the officer was still being interviewed and no administrative action taken. "It is currently with internal affairs agents at this point. So we will know by end of day," said Limo, adding that the findings will likely prompt more frequent searches.
"An officer is sworn in under oath to protect and serve the people of Guam. It's a sad thing when we have an official at that capacity promoting prison contraband into a facility such as where he works at," Limo continued.
The good part about it is we were able to catch him. The contraband wasn't able to make it in."
Contraband has been a longtime issue at the island's prison. In the past outsiders have attempted to throw contraband over the prison fence and on one occasion, a woman was caught smuggling contraband which she placed in her baby's diaper.
"They'll try to do everything and anything to make it through, but in this case they got caught," Limo said. He noted that a bag search was also conducted on the second shift to report to duty with negative findings. "We have 60 days starting today and again there are several charges involved in this case in particular.
"Again, the individual was caught promoting prison contraband. That is not going to be lightly with the director of corrections at this point."
Guam - It's the last person you would think would ever be caught trying to smuggle in contraband into the Department of Corrections, but DepCor launches an investigation into one of their own.
A Department of Corrections officer reporting for duty Monday morning may be spending more time at this job than he probably expected.
Agency spokesman Lieutenant Jeff Limo said, "An unannounced bag search was conducted early this morning at the main compound in Mangilao and unfortunately one of the officers was pulled and given, or should I say was taken in, by Internal Affairs for an investigation." According to Limo, the officer was found to be promoting prison contraband.
Monday's unannounced bag search included whatever the officers were carrying into duty as well as a search of their vehicles.
As of newstime, the officer was still being interviewed and no administrative action taken. "It is currently with internal affairs agents at this point. So we will know by end of day," said Limo, adding that the findings will likely prompt more frequent searches.
"An officer is sworn in under oath to protect and serve the people of Guam. It's a sad thing when we have an official at that capacity promoting prison contraband into a facility such as where he works at," Limo continued.
The good part about it is we were able to catch him. The contraband wasn't able to make it in."
Contraband has been a longtime issue at the island's prison. In the past outsiders have attempted to throw contraband over the prison fence and on one occasion, a woman was caught smuggling contraband which she placed in her baby's diaper.
"They'll try to do everything and anything to make it through, but in this case they got caught," Limo said. He noted that a bag search was also conducted on the second shift to report to duty with negative findings. "We have 60 days starting today and again there are several charges involved in this case in particular.
"Again, the individual was caught promoting prison contraband. That is not going to be lightly with the director of corrections at this point."