The Department of Corrections (DOC) and Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) received the first shipment of coronavirus sanitation supplies funded under a federal grant and earmarked for criminal justice agencies this week.
Supplies included surgical masks, hand sanitizers, thermometers, alcohol wipes, face shields, and alcohol.
Other criminal justice agencies will also receive supplies from this grant, including the Guam Police Department (GPD), Guam Customs and Quarantine, the Public Defender’s Office, and the Judiciary of Guam.
“From the start, our goal has been to fully access all available federal funding and get this support into the hands of our first responders as quickly as possible,” stated Governor Lou Leon Guerrero in a news release.
The $2.9 million U.S. Department of Justice Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program Grant was secured last month by the Bureau of Statistics and Plans (BSP). The funding became available as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help public safety agencies in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BSP Director Tyrone J. Taitano said: “Every law enforcement agency will benefit from the funding. In addition to sanitation supplies, the grant has been used by BSP to hire a nurse for DYA to help with the intake of clients and to purchase four new ambulances for the Guam Fire Department (GFD) which are expected to arrive in June. The grant is also being used to fund several other needs, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for every local law enforcement officer, four new GPD law enforcement vehicles, and two new GFD command vehicles.”
Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio was present during the presentation at the BSP office and greeted DOC personnel picking up supplies. He stated, “All our law enforcement personnel are doing an impressive job during this emergency. It’s our obligation to see them get the supplies they need to help keep them safe.”
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