Senators commended officers and staff for their commitment, sacrifice and dedication on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

The legislative Public Safety Committee awarded 12 resolutions.

The day of recognition has longtime officers like Airport Police Lt. Dean Delgado looking back on what got them into the force. “It all started out right after high school when I joined the military. I served my country in Desert Storm, Desert Shield. That's when I realized I had a calling for law enforcement,” Delgado said.

It’s a call to duty he answered twenty-seven years ago, following the footsteps of his uncle. He shared, “First in the family is actually who inspired me to join, my uncle Joe Carbullido. He’s a major in Guam police.”

Lt. Delgado’s inspiration and his motivation to continue to serve and protect is highlighted when he said, “What keeps me going? Just serving our island is one. Working with other law enforcement entities to protect our people here.”

For Department of Corrections (DOC) Officer Recruit Catherine Short, she’ll be the first in her family to serve. She said, “I just turned 20…I genuinely want to help inmates rehabilitate themselves, instead of just serving their time and coming back out to do what they did that got them in there.”

The young recruit is finishing up an intensive training cycle and is excited to get her badge this Friday.

“It’s been tough. I guess it’s meant to rebuild our character, make us stronger and make us handle things a lot easier and know what to do,” Short said.

Another Correction Officer Recruit Mark Borja agreed that it’s been a tough 3 months. He shared, “It's a learning experience for each and every one of us. It’s definitely an eye opener. It’s a reality check of what this job really does. It’s not really easy like most people would think or say.”

But he wants prospective law enforcement recruits to know this, “If you take passion in your dreams, like my dream was to be in law enforcement and serve my community, then I say go for it. It's definitely something that’s achievable.”

Meanwhile, Short wants the community to know that correction officers are committed to helping inmates get back to the right track.

“About DOC and its officers, they all really respect the inmates and treat them as the humans that they are. They are genuinely trying to rehabilitate them. Some people perceive that we’re treating them inhumane or that we’re not treating them fairly. We are really doing our best to help them change,” She explained.