The Haines Borough will hire another interim police chief when current interim chief Robert Griffiths leaves the job on Nov. 23.
Manager David Sosa said this week the borough will also likely hire a professional search firm to help secure the municipality’s next permanent chief.
Sosa said he has been researching several firms, though he doesn’t have a cost estimate yet. “They are not cheap. Depending on exactly what you look for in a search, it can be anywhere between $20,000 and $40,000,” Sosa said.
When Griffiths came onto the job in May, he expressed skepticism that Haines needed to hire an outside headhunting firm to find its next chief. Now he’s changed his mind.
“I do feel an executive search firm is what Haines needs at this point,” Griffiths said. “The search will likely have to be nationwide, and borough staff are not equipped to pursue the level of effort required while continuing their other daily duties.”
Though firms are expensive, the cost would be an investment in the future of Haines and its police department, he added.
Public Safety Commission chair Jim Stanford said he has also changed his view of hiring a professional search firm. Stanford said he has always been the first to balk at spending money on consultants, but in this case, it’s necessary.
“Given the situation that we are in and given the staffing problems and given the history of the last couple hires, I think we almost have to. We don’t have a choice,” Stanford said.
When Griffiths leaves, the department will be staffed by Sgt. Josh Dryden, officer Ryan Rutland and temporary hire officer Ken VanSpronsen.
Griffiths said he recently offered two “highly qualified” candidates an officer position, but both withdrew their applications. “I believe that compensation did play a role in their decisions, but was not the sole factor,” he said.
Another factor is likely Haines’ reputation, a point that came up during a Tuesday meeting between Griffiths, Sosa and Stanford. Stanford said Griffiths has been reaching out to his Alaska contacts to see if anyone would be interested in serving as an interim chief in Haines, but no one has stepped up.
“He’s having a hard time getting anybody to come to Haines. The word has gotten out,” Stanford said. “I think the rumor mill has flown around that it’s a contentious community and it’s a hard place to be a police officer.”
In 2013, the city of Petersburg paid a headhunting firm $26,500, including travel, to help land a new chief. (Petersburg has a population of 3,200 and pays its chief $82,500 annually.) Petersburg’s process started with more than 60 applicants and included a four-day visit to Petersburg by three finalists.
Stanford said he wants to look into “piggy-backing” off that recent search, perhaps by getting a list of top candidates that ultimately weren’t hired in Petersburg.
“I think there is a creative way of doing this without dumping $40,000 to $50,000 on a firm,” he said.
The Public Safety Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.