THE transition team assigned to the Department of Public Safety said it should take proactive steps to reestablish and repair relationships with federal law enforcement partners, particularly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.
In its report to the incoming Palacios-Apatang administration, the transition team headed by Rep. Edwin Propst also said that “based on its interviews with DPS personnel, both past and present, the general disposition at DPS was one of low morale” due to the following reasons:
• Retaliation. If officers were critical of the commissioner or his “inner circle” or lodged complaints, they were often “punished” by being posted to undesirable locations or assignments, or even transferred to another department or agency.
• Nepotism and cronyism. Police officers interviewed felt Commissioner Robert Guerrero favored those related to him and those who were in his “inner circle” with overtime, job promotions for those who were less qualified, travel, and other rewards.
• Political discrimination. While DPS personnel are supposed to be non-political at the office and during working hours, police officers interviewed complained that they were asked and expected to show up to political rallies and gatherings. If they did not show up, their supervisors who were close to Commissioner Guerrero would ask them why they did not show up to a political rally.
• Micromanagement. Sections, such as the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Internal Affairs, Boating Safety, and Logistics were placed under the immediate command of the commissioner through his “inner circle” and would report directly to him. Officers who worked in these areas reported they had trust issues with their supervisors and would often refrain from speaking up for fear of retaliation.
• Training deficiencies. At nearly every level of DPS there is a need for professional development and training.
Federal partners
The report likewise stated that the department’s relationships with federal partners, especially with the FBI and HSI, have “deteriorated significantly over the past years under the outgoing administration.”
“Officers interviewed said they believed the strain in relationships with federal partners began with the FBI’s raid on the Office of the Governor in November 2019, and HSI’s raid on Medpharm in May 2020.
“The officers stated they believed that Medpharm was associated with Governor Ralph Torres and/or his brothers.
“Officers interviewed also indicated the former DPS commissioner had his own problems working with federal partners and contributed greatly to the erosion of trust and collaboration between DPS and federal agencies.
“Mr. Guerrero abruptly terminated cooperative agreements with federal agencies, responded late or not at all to communications from federal agents, turned down federal assistance even in crisis situations, made unreasonable demands for the placement of his chosen individual officers in federal-local task forces, and reassigned or transferred DPS officers who had been providing assistance to federal partners.
“Mr. Guerrero also barred federal agents from using the DPS shooting range that had been built with federal funds, and further disallowed even DPS officers assigned to federal-local task forces from fulfilling their federal firearms certification requirements on the DPS shooting range.”
According to the report, “When partnerships are strong, federal law enforcement agencies have provided training, ammunition, gear, access to national criminal background check databases, access to crime labs, access to administrative subpoenas which are more efficient than warrants, and other resources to assist their DPS counterparts.”
“Cooperation with federal law enforcement is also more effective in cases involving asset seizures because federal laws governing asset forfeiture are stronger than local laws, and seized monies, vehicles, and other assets are directed to the local law enforcement agencies that provided assistance,” the report added.
Wasteful spending
The report noted that the former commissioner “had signature authority on all purchases for new vehicles equipment, big ticket items, and service contracts.”
“Mr. Guerrero used his own discretion and made executive decisions and was accused of ‘wasteful spending’ by administrative personnel and police officers,” the report added.
“One example was his sole decision to paint newly purchased police vehicles from white to black.
“Fleets of brand-new vehicles were repainted to black, and the vehicles had to be stripped of its details and then detailed once again, costing DPS hundreds of thousands of dollars for something deemed unnecessary and a poor choice of color, since black vehicles are harder to see at night than white vehicles.”
Guerrero also “purchased vehicles without consideration for gas efficiency or availability of parts for vehicles and made purchases without warranties for police vehicles,” the report stated.
It added that almost all maintenance and repairs were done by just two companies: Da Bao and Si Tong.
“The Palacios-Apatang administration and new DPS leadership should avoid sole-source contracts and seek best purchase practices for DPS by following procurement guidelines. The incoming commissioner should request input from key administrative and police personnel when it comes to purchases,” the report added.
DPS was under the command of Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero from Jan. 23, 2016 to Dec. 16, 2022.
Police vehicles are parked at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Susupe.
