The defense of Palau is the responsibility of the United States, but local police matters are handled by the Palau Police, the national police force. Some of the sixteen states also had separate police departments during the 1980s and 1990s.
The Palau Bureau of Public Division of Marine Law Enforcement (DMLE) responsible for marine surveillance, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue in Palau’s territorial waters and its 200 nm exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DMLE have a Pacific-class patrol boat, the PSS President H.I. Remeliik, for use in maritime surveillance and fisheries control in EEZ. This was donated and is maintained by Australia, who also provide training for the crew. Its home port is Koror. DMLE also operate two small 15-meter inshore patrol vessels Kabekel M’Tal and Bul, both above used as surveillance of inshore and territorial waters, and they are donated by The Nippon Foundation and The Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
In addition, DMLE have a search and rescue Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and a twin 85 hp boat. They are used only for inshore operations.
The Bureau of Public Safety director is Hazime T. Telei. Palau has provided police officers to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands since May 2006. Palauan Police officer Bryson Ngiratumerang is contingent commander of the Palauan police serving as part of RAMSI's Participating Police Force (PPF).