Sitka’s police department staffing is down by around half. That’s according to a report included in the Sitka Assembly’s meeting packet tonight.
The end-of-year quarterly report from the Sitka Police Department is sparse in comparison to the same report this time last year, with just a few data points listed. But the big news is this: the police department staffing levels are low. Between the jail, 911 dispatch, and patrol officer positions, the department has 14 vacant positions.
That’s not counting the newly vacated Animal Control Officer position. In an email, Sitka Police spokesperson Serena Wild told KCAW that the form was turned in before the latest ACO resigned in mid-December. Wild confirmed that Police Chief Robert Baty would be at the meeting to address the assembly tonight.
In other business, the assembly will consider a $5,000 appropriation to send the mayor and city administrator to the Cruise Line International Association’s Pacific Northwest Cruise symposium, and it will consider a supplemental appropriation to fund the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce through the end of the fiscal year.
The Sitka Assembly meets at 6 p.m. tonight. Raven News will broadcast the meeting live, following Alaska News Nightly.
