GPD officer under investigation in connection to federal drug case

The Chief of Police wants the community to know that an officer on leave since 2017 that is under investigation in a federal drug case is not the face of his department.

The top brass says incidents like this leave a stain on the department and takes away from the hardworking men and women in Guam Police Department (GPD).

Police Chief Stephen Ignacio expressed, “Brian Awa is not indicative of the hard men and women of the Guam Police Department. He is someone that we need to weed out and get out of our organization. He has no place in the Guam Police Department. He has no right to hold a badge and a gun, and say he is a Guam Police Department officer. He has no place in this organization.”

Ignacio spoke on Brian Awa, a GPD officer who has been on a leave of absence since 2017 who is currently under investigation in a federal drug case.

As we reported, recent unsealed federal court documents, revealed that Awa, was allegedly distributing meth. 

On Wednesday, after learning of the criminal investigation, GPD launched an internal affairs investigation against Awa. 

Ignacio confirmed the investigation was only launched after seeing the story on social media. 

He said, “Based on what was posted, I instructed Internal Affairs to initiate an administrative investigation into the allegations that Brian Awa was dealing or has been dealing narcotics.”

The federal search warrant states GPD K9 officer Awa was being investigated by the feds since 2019. The case involved more than two pounds of meth and multiple undercover drug operations. 

To date, no criminal charges have been filed against Awa. He still has his badge and his gun.

Chief Ignacio calls the whole situation disturbing.

“It really stains the reputation of the Guam Police Department. But at the same time I welcome any investigation into the department and any of the officers especially if its dealing with drugs, they have no place in the Guam Police Department,” He expressed. 

He does offer a warning, “To any officer who may be involved, your day will come and there will be a reckoning.”