As part of 2025 Police Week activities, which ran from May 11 to May 17, the Guam Police Department gave awards to five individuals in several different categories. In particular, one category was “Civilian of the Year,” and this year the distinction went to Nellie N. Asanuma, administrative services officer in GPD’s Administrative Division’s Service Bureau.
Asanuma, who began her career with GPD in Oct. 2022, never dreamed she’d have police officers as her co-workers. Since her youth, she always felt nervous around cops. “When I was a kid, my parents would scare me into behaving, by threatening to call the police,” she said, chuckling as she recalled some memories.
Asanuma had earlier opportunities to work for the department, but was never interested. She had worked with the Guam Department of Labor in various capacities dealing with accounting and finance, and she felt comfortable keeping her career trajectory. One day, however, she was convinced by a future colleague to make a career change. She finally took a leap of faith and accepted the role she’s now in. In retrospect, she thinks working at GPD is now her calling.
Fast forward to 2025, Asanuma beams with joy and pride for the work she performs. From the onset, Asanuma proved to be an asset overseeing the Finance and Personnel sections for the department. As her responsibilities expanded, she played critical roles in budget planning, fiscal reconciliation, and federal grant oversight – most notably, defending a $52.5 million budget and recovering over $3.5 million in de-obligated federal funds. In addition to ensuring accurate payroll processing, vendor payments, and grant compliance, she manages human resources functions for over 350 employees.
She’s instrumental in finding funding sources for much needed vehicles, equipment and other necessities.
“When I see the officers wearing their bulletproof vest walking past me, though they may not know me, all I can do is smile, because I did my part to ensure their safety,” she says.
When Asanuma was notified that she was selected for the award, she felt both overwhelmed and excited. “This was very unexpected. I hadn’t anticipated receiving such an honor, especially given my relatively short time with GPD. It was a lot to process, but at the same time, I was genuinely excited and deeply appreciative of the acknowledgment of my work,” she said.
Asanuma also organized and launched the “Ride-Along Project Team." The project was designed to create understanding between administrative staff and frontline patrol officers. Through meetings with precinct staff, she assessed working conditions and needs, creating a new channel for open communication. Her presence in the field offered officers a rare opportunity to voice concerns to someone with the authority to advocate for real change. Her compassion and drive helped improve morale and strengthen the bond between the administrative and operational divisions.
Asanuma was born on Guam and raised both here and in Palau. She worked for the Government of Palau until she decided to move back to the island and pursue her educational goals. She earned a B.A. in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration both from the University of Guam.
Asanuma says she consistently embraces every opportunity to learn and grow and always strives to improve. She also sees winning the award as an accomplishment that is bigger than herself as an individual. “This experience has served as a significant reminder of the importance of collaboration, strength that comes from appreciating diverse perspectives, and of the steadfast support I receive from my incredible team,” she said.
Congratulations to Ms. Nellie Asanuma the 2025 “Civilian of the Year!”
Norman Analista is the first civilian public information officer for the Guam Police Department in over 20 years. He and Police Officer III Berlyn Savella are in a period of transitioning responsibilities.