Overview:
The Bureau of Public Safety says it is operating with a severe manpower shortage, leaving some patrol shifts staffed by only four officers. Police leaders warn the staffing crisis is affecting crime prevention efforts as theft and burglary cases continue to rise.
Patrol Division often operates with just four officers per shift while vacancies, retirements and recruitment challenges strain police services.
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (June 4, 2026) — The Bureau of Public Safety is facing a significant manpower shortage across its divisions, with officials warning that limited staffing is affecting daily police operations and efforts to address rising crime.
“At any given shift, the Division of Patrol has only four officers on duty, that is if they are all present and no one called in sick or off on leave,” said Division of Patrol Chief Flavian Ngiramengior.
BPS Director Curtis Elobt said the bureau is currently short 45 officers across all divisions. The Patrol Division alone recently advertised 15 vacant positions in an effort to strengthen frontline law enforcement services.
Despite the vacancies, recruiting qualified officers has proven difficult.
According to Ngiramengior, the Patrol Division received 14 applications after its recruitment announcement closed. However, only five applicants passed the initial screening process. Those who failed either had criminal records or tested positive for illegal drugs.
Of the five who qualified, two accepted jobs elsewhere. One of the remaining three later withdrew, leaving only two successful hires from the original 14 applicants.
While the bureau is already short-staffed, Elobt said the situation is expected to worsen as personnel continue to leave the force.
He reported that two officers will be away for six months of training, three officers are retiring, and one officer recently passed away.
“I’ve managed to convince one of the retirees to extend his contract, but this is hard work and it is difficult for those reaching retirement age to extend,” Elobt said.
The staffing shortage has placed additional pressure on officers and affected the bureau’s ability to respond to crime and maintain public safety.
Elobt said police are seeing an increase in theft and burglary cases, which he attributed to the growing presence of illegal drugs in Palau.
“We are getting more reports of tourists having their credit cards stolen,” he added.
To address the shortage, BPS has relied heavily on overtime work. Officers from other divisions are often asked to assist the Patrol Division during their off-hours to ensure adequate coverage.
“For this, we need funds to pay overtime,” Elobt said. “These people must get paid for the overtime work they do. We are asking them to pull extra work after their full-time work and they have to be paid.”
Elobt said he is advocating for funding to compensate officers who take on additional shifts.
Police leaders are also looking to technology as a force multiplier.
Ngiramengior said expanding the use of surveillance cameras could help offset staffing limitations and improve crime detection and investigations.
He encouraged businesses and residents to invest in CCTV systems, noting that modern cameras are relatively affordable and provide high-quality video footage.
As the bureau continues its recruitment efforts, officials say a combination of additional personnel, overtime support and greater use of technology will be necessary to maintain public safety services amid ongoing staffing challenges.
