The Haines Borough Police Department is getting a new officer, but borough staff won’t release the man’s job application due to a new personnel ordinance that makes most employee applications confidential.
Interim police chief Simon Ford said Josh Dryden accepted the position this week. According to Ford, Dryden has eight years of law enforcement experience and several more years’ experience working as a contract security provider overseas.
“Because of his experience and references, I felt comfortable recommending his hire just from the interview process,” Ford said. “He strikes me as being very balanced, family-oriented and not badge-heavy or impulsive. I think he’ll be a great fit.”
Dryden, who is from Virginia and lives in Alabama, has never visited Haines. “He hates the hot, sticky weather there and says there are too many people down there for him,” Ford said.
Dryden is tentatively slated to start March 1. Since he has worked as a certified police officer in another state for several years, Dryden will only need to attend a three-week lateral academy in Sitka from May 16 to June 6.
The training focuses on Alaska laws and Alaska-specific policies and procedures like search and seizure and privacy expectations.
Ford made a decision to hire officer Travis Marshall in early November, but after Marshall pulled out and chose not to take the job, Ford resumed the hiring process in January.
Interim manager Julie Cozzi refused to provide Dryden’s application based on a code change adopted by the assembly last fall.
“Borough code states most employment applications are to be considered confidential and, are not open to public inspection. The exceptions are for borough officers and department heads,” Cozzi said.