Putting their lives on the line every day, Guam's public safety officers risk everything to protect the island community. Now, a bill aims to ensure their families are protected, too. Law enforcement rally behind legislation that would provide and increase to life insurance benefits to officers killed in the line of duty.

Senator Shawn Gumataotao said, "Law enforcement officers are routinely expected to manage intense, stressful, or delicate public safety situations from Yigo to Malesso and can often lead to burnout or a decline in mental health. Bill 10 does much to give a peace of mind to the safety and well-being of officers on the field and their families, that wait for them at home." The freshman policymaker says that his Bill 10 is part of a broader legislative approach to recruiting and retaining officers across the government, particularly at a time when Government of Guam agencies are continuing to lose employees to federal and military entities. 

Friday morning, a public hearing was held with several from Guam's law enforcement agencies out in full support of Gumataotao's bill.

Guam Fire Department chief Daren Burrier says such a policy is powerful statement, saying, "By increasing the life insurance benefits we can insure that officers and families are adequately supported in navigating the immediate financial strains such as funeral expenses, mortgage payments and dependents education. More importantly, it's the acknowledgment of the ultimate sacrifice by these courageous individuals."

Along with showing strong support for the passage of the bill, Guam Police Department Chief Stephen Ignacio added to comment referencing the Hometown Heroes Act - officers who die and officers who are killed in the line of duty ensuring the distinction. "Unfortunately in Bill 10, there are no definitions, between killed and died. An officer may be killed, shot or run over by a car, and an officer may also die in the line of duty - he may be chasing a suspect and suffer a heart attack and pass away."

The hearing concluded with the suggestion to include in the bill off-duty officers and even recruits or trainees who are on the job training.

Also with no representatives from the Department of Administration and retirement present, lawmakers hope to hear from them as they will play a big role as well as Gumataotao's Bill 10 moves forward.