Wrangellites filled the Borough Assembly Chambers last week, to the point where staff brought in 40 extra chairs. Normally, the amount of people who attend a borough assembly meeting can be counted on one hand, if it’s not zero.
Most of the people attended because of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, but the major issue they were concerned about is how the draft borough budget calls for one law enforcement position to be cut this fall. The city said the layoff is necessary because of tight funds.
Whose position that is, is unknown. Still, law enforcement personnel made sure Wrangell’s Borough Assembly knew they opposed the downsizing of the department.
“I find it suspicious that the reason given for laying off police officers is not having enough money,” Lieutenant and Acting Police Chief Bruce Smith Jr said. “I would consider the real reason the reallocation of money to non-police services.”
Many said they found out about the proposed cut through an article in the local paper that discussed the draft budget on June 6. The initial proposal was to lay off two police officers.
Law enforcement concerned about public safety
Because the police department is currently holding union elections until late July, they declined to comment on the budget. But during the assembly meeting, Smith said he’s concerned about public safety.
“If you have a serious event such as a fatality or a felony DV crime or something like that, how many officers do you think it will take to control that incident? I can tell you that three is not enough to do it safely or correctly,” Smith said. “You will need enough officers to handle the crime scene, deal with the victims, deal with the suspects, and deal with the court for obtaining warrants. And all of that happens at the same time.”
Alaska State Trooper Alisha Seward arrived in Wrangell three months ago. She said she’s also concerned about public safety and her lack of backup.
“Definitely kind of shocking to find in the paper that, you know, essentially my backup is getting cut short,” she said. “I’ve been all over the state. I’ve worked as a state trooper for darn near 10 years and this job is stressful. Stuff that we don’t want you guys to even come close to seeing.”
She said when a police department doesn’t have enough officers, it stresses workers. They don’t get enough sleep and eventually, they’ll leave.
She said law enforcement has called her out for multiple high-risk incidents during her short time here. These include domestic violence cases and people who might be armed and not cooperating.
“I still think with staffing we could work with six officers”
Wrangell Mayor Patty Gilbert said she didn’t think about the impact of a catastrophic event if there’s not enough police force in town. But she still agreed with the proposed layoff under the guidance of the new police chief who will arrive in late July.
“I still think with staffing we could work with six officers, but I would rather it happen by attrition,” she said. “I would rather it happen under the direction of a new police chief, as opposed to us making the decision tonight.”
Borough Manager Mason Villarma said that cuts would have to be made, including to the Parks and Rec and Police Departments.
Parks and Rec will have reduced facility hours, limited aquatics programs and decreased management for parks, trails and green spaces.
Wants versus needs
He said there are $200 million in deferred maintenance on top of funding and operating expenses. He said the city is in a situation where they have to look at wants versus needs.
“We have severe needs to the community to do critical services and I’m talking the very basic needs: water, sewer, power,” Villarma said. “Then you take a step up, education. You look around regionally, Sitka for example, laid off 16 teachers this year. Done. Ketchikan proposed 47 teachers.”
Villarma compared other police departments’ staff in Alaska, like Cordova. He said Cordova has a population of 2,545 with a police unit of five. Wrangell currently has seven officers with a population of 2,039.
Meanwhile, the proposed budget adds three fully funded positions – for harbor maintenance, public works maintenance and a senior project manager. This addition brings a net impact of $366,396.
Villarma said that the added positions would bring more money to the city, so it’s justifiable to add them and cut a police position. He said everyone in administration and maintenance is stretched thin.
“Fifty-two million dollars of projects to execute and you’re expecting one person to do it,” he said. “So three people to do $52 million of work that’s crazy and unrealistic and all the while we’re still trying to get more money.”
This also depends on other things, such as the outcome of the police unionizing with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the incoming Police Chief Gene Meek.
The police department’s union election runs until the end of July and then there’s a bargaining process to work through after. The police officer position is funded through September 30.
