The Haines Borough Police Department is bringing in extra muscle to ensure the annual influx of beer lovers doesn’t get out of hand.
Police chief Bill Musser is importing three officers from Hoonah to join the five-man force for the 22nd Annual Great Alaska Craft Beer and Home Brew Festival this weekend.
“They will augment our force, which will be fully deployed through the event,” Musser said. “All Haines officers are scheduled to be on duty during the event, except one who will be away on a prior-scheduled leave.”
The festival includes a 200-seat dinner on Friday. The main event, though, is Saturday’s beer tasting, which sells 1,400 tickets, not including distributors and brewers.
Fair director Jessica Edwards said in the past several years, the event has had a very mellow, positive vibe. Part of maintaining that has been the presence of borough police officers who have had a relatively hands-off, relaxed approach to the event.
“They have done a great job of setting the tone,” Edwards said.
However, despite attendees who have been largely respectful and responsible, Edwards said she understands why the department is recruiting the extra three officers.
“There are 1,000 people from out of town. It makes sense,” Edwards said. “We’re adding 1,000 people to our population for the weekend.”
Musser said the department will “be working to provide a visible presence in the townsite” this year “in response to a number of concerns from Haines residents.”
“Concerns from citizens include experiences with disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and theft of property in and around the area of the fort last year,” Musser said. The extra officers will cost the borough about $500 for lodging, Musser said.
Karen Hess, a local business owner and member of the Tourism Advisory Board, said she thinks the event is “great for the community, but I would just like to see it kept at a manageable level.”
The four-hour tasting event itself isn’t the issue, Hess said. “I don’t think it is beerfest that needs to be policed. It is the after beerfest that needs to be policed,” she said.
“It’s downtown. You have people after beerfest and they go downtown and pretty soon they are throwing stuff and there is garbage all over and you have people camped down at the beach.”
“It just seems like they need to pay more attention to what people are doing and where people are going,” Hess added.
Though Hess expressed skepticism that officers from Hoonah might not have experience dealing with big events like Beer Fest, she said she’s glad they are coming.
“If people are aware that you have police around, they probably aren’t as likely to do things that are not so good for the community,” Hess said. “I think having anybody in uniform being visible somewhere is good.”
Borough manager David Sosa said he discussed the manpower increase with Musser.
“Essentially, with the population doubling for the better part of a weekend, this helps us ensure we can meet the needs of all our residents and visitors,” Sosa said.