During Wednesday's oversight hearing with the Guam Police Department (GPD), Public Safety Chair Sen. Chris Barnett addressed many topics, one that he felt needed to be discussed was promotions and how the outcomes of some of these promotions not only affect the morale of the rank and file but retention of officers. 

Barnett read a letter from a GPD officer who wished to remain anonymous in fear of retribution. The letter was in regard to the position of colonel.

The letter said, “A majority of the candidates are already resigning themselves to defeat as they've been informed that the process is a formality and that the promotion is guaranteed to be given to Maj. Joseph Carbullido. Seeing as how Carbullido was just promoted to Maj. as a reward for filling in at the DOC, it's a clear and gross use of government resources.”

We should note that Carbullido was promoted to Colonel which took effect on Feb. 11. previously, he was promoted to Major last year.

The letter continued, questioning the leadership.

“There's absolutely zero confidence in the leadership at the highest level. Would you want to work for an agency that's quick to persecute you instead of having your back first? No positive changes, only reactive vs proactive…Senator, you have publicly asked why people are leaving the dept at an alarming rate? And this is exactly why,” the letter said.

GPD Chief Stephen Ignacio's response to the letter?

“The promotions cannot be political in nature because it is a merit-based in line with DOA’s rules and regulations. And second, there was a board that was composed and they formulated their own questions and interviewed the candidates that came out. With the exception of one, everyone on that list had a fair opportunity to be interviewed for this promotion as well…There's steps and there's processes in place and that's why it's called a merit promotion at the end of the day,” said Ignacio.

Will the recent promotions be the deciding factor of police officers leaving the department? Only time will tell.