The Haines Borough Police Department has hired officer Brayton Long, bringing the current force up to four.
Long was sworn in Monday.
Sgt. Josh Dryden is working as acting chief in the wake of interim chief Robert Griffiths’ Monday departure from the job.
Manager David Sosa said Dryden will serve as acting chief while the borough conducts a search for an interim chief. The assembly has yet to decide whether to conduct the search in-house or hire a headhunting firm.
Dryden said Long has worked for five years as a police officer in Skagway and has a down-to-earth, community-oriented attitude toward policing.
“I think he will have a good balance between enforcement and education,” Dryden said.
Dryden said Long has family in Haines.
The department currently consists of Dryden, Long, officer Ryan Rutland and officer Ken VanSpronsen.
VanSpronsen, a temporary hire, will work until early January, Dryden said.
According to Long’s LinkedIn profile, he served in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2007 and worked as a deputy sheriff/corrections officer for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department from 2000-2004.