The 9mm handguns, which are worth $8,000, are surplus weapon, according to Lt. Mike Reyes of the Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources.
“We’re happy to assist the CNMI in any way we can when it comes to service equipment,” Reyes said.
He added that the handguns are no longer needed by the enforcers on Guam as they now use higher caliber weapons.
“We really don’t have a need for the handguns and we would rather give it to other agencies that need them,” Reyes said.
He added that this is the first donation the department has made to DPS, but they still have more weapons in their inventory.
“We would be happy to release the excess weapons to the CNMI,” he added.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Clyde K. Norita said the handguns came at a right time.
“We’re very grateful for this donation, as we have an academy coming up, and the handguns will be issued to the new police officers who will be graduating from the academy,” Norita said.
He added that the donated handguns are the same firearms that CNMI police officers are using.
He said DPS has yet to transition to higher caliber weapons but they are catching up.
“Funding has always been a challenge, and the handguns mean a big savings for the department,” Norita said.
Guam Sgt. Mark Aguon, who was with Reyes, said “compatibility in weapons is important especially as the enforcers are lending support to each other.”
