22 Guam Police officers promoted to Police Officer III honored in ceremony

Congratulations are in order to some hard working Guam Police Department officers sworn to serve and protect.  22 officers have risen up the ranks and today were newly-promoted to Police Officer III. 

Loved ones, fellow officers, and island leaders gathering to celebrate a significant milestone at the Hilton Guam Resort on Friday morning.  Officer Jelene Desamito is one of the newly promoted officers, and said, "I feel great. I feel like it's a lot more responsibility but I’m ready for it."

She’s part of the Juvenile Investigation Section and has been part of the force for nine years.  She admits its a demanding profession with a shortage of manpower, but says she has a great team who has each other’s backs and comes home to a strong support system. 

Desamito added, "My family, my children. I have three girls. They keep me going everyday."

Plus her lifelong partner, Officer Marvin Desamito, is always standing beside her. They’ve been married for four years.  "I’m very proud of her because she’s exceeded me in promotion, which I’m very proud of," he quipped.

Also with the department for nine years is Officer Jason Young with the Highway Patrol Division, who also shared the proud moment. "It’s really great to be promoted. I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. It’s a great honor to advance in the ranks and do more in the department. So I’m really looking forward to the added responsibility and trust that they placed in me," he said.

The biggest challenge for him is that his division deals with fatal traffic accidents, as he said, "So I can be at home, I can be doing anything and my phone will ring. I get to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year."

But he says it's the chance to do some good and help families find closure that keeps him going.  "When somebody is involved in a fatal accident, the family always has questions about how things happened and what exactly went on. While we can’t exactly bring the person back, we can help them understand why things happen and try to give them closure for their loved ones," he said.

In the meantime, with the roads still wet with the recent tropical storm, Officer Young leaves this reminder: "Slow down, wear your seatbelts and drive safe."