HAGÅTÑA — Guam Police Chief Stephen C. Ignacio has died, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Acting Governor Josh Tenorio announced Tuesday, calling his passing a profound loss for the island.
In a joint statement, the governor and acting governor said Ignacio dedicated his life for more than three decades to protecting the people of Guam and serving the island with honor, integrity and commitment. They said he wore the badge not for recognition but because he believed in public service and in the responsibility to safeguard the community.
“Guam is safer, stronger, and better because of his service,” they said.
The statement said generations of officers knew Ignacio as a mentor, a leader and a steady hand, and that the people of Guam knew him as a public servant who carried out his duties with professionalism and humility. His contributions to public safety and to the Guam Police Department leave a legacy that will be felt for generations, the governor and acting governor said.
They extended condolences to Ignacio’s children, grandchildren, family and friends, and to the men and women of the Guam Police Department, who they said have lost not only their chief but one of their own.
Assistant Chief Joe Carbullido is serving as acting chief of police and was appointed Monday to ensure continuity of leadership within the department, the statement said. Major Andrew Quitigua is serving as acting director of the Department of Corrections.
Ignacio was appointed chief of the Guam Police Department in 2019 following confirmation by the Guam Legislature and had spent decades rising through the ranks of the department.
The governor and acting governor said they join the community in honoring Ignacio’s legacy and keeping his family and fellow officers in their prayers.