Is there a difference between online gambling, cockfighting, and bingo? 

The Chief of Police doesn't think so after his response to recent unsealed documents, which identified four officers in an illegal gambling investigation

Senator Chris Barnett, Chair of Public Safety, said during the oversight hearing, “Chief, I feel like you should have come down a little harder, for me the takeaway is if the secret service is investigating I believe it's a problem.” 

Sen. Barnett reacted to Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio's comments regarding the recent unsealed documents that identify four cops in an illegal gambling investigation during Tuesday's GPD oversight.

“I don't understand the scheme. Nobody from the secret service has come to me and said this is why it's illegal gambling. This is why these people were under investigation…If you look at our society, it's illegal for cockfighting but people still cockfight on Guam,” said Ignacio. 

He added, “We have bingo...we've all been down this road, is bingo gambling, is it not gambling? If these federal investigative agencies, the secret service in this case, determine that it is illegal gambling, and the officer or officers get indicted and get arrested, they have to deal with the fallout, and I have to deal with it as the Chief.” 

Ignacio said the most important fact that he needs is who are the officers that were involved based on the initials that were provided.

KUAM did release the names of the cops, but Ignacio said that there are many in GPD that have the same initials. Ignacio stated he wants factual information, awaiting word from the secret service as to who the three officers are.

Meanwhile, Ignacio did say an internal affairs investigation has been launched.