The Haines Borough Assembly decided not to send a preemptive letter to the state government in response to a rumor that the borough might lose one of its two state troopers.
The assembly voted 4-2 Tuesday against a proposal by assembly member Tom Morphet that a letter should be sent to the Alaska State Troopers to request that the Haines detachment not lose an officer.
On Nov. 1, borough manager Bill Seward told the assembly in a meeting that there is a rumor that the Alaska State Troopers might not replace one of its Haines officers as that officer leaves or retires. The borough has not been able to confirm that rumor.
Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters told the Chilkat Valley News no decision on that matter has been made. “It is really premature to address anything like that,” she said.
Morphet and assembly member Heather Lende argued that Haines needs to be proactive in order not to lose a trooper.
“We’ll get stuck behind the curve. We want to get in front of it,” Morphet said. Lende added: “I agree. We should get out in front.”
The other four assembly members, Mayor Jan Hill and Seward disagreed.
“We shouldn’t speculate without concrete confirmation from the troopers …. There’s a way to do it without throwing our way under the bus,” said assembly member Margaret Friedenauer.
“I don’t think it is a good idea. Timing is everything. This is not the right time,” Hill said.
Seward said the specific trooper being speculated about does not know what will happen.
Morphet said the trooper’s house is for sale.
The Chilkat Valley News could not reach that trooper this week for comment.
Morphet owns the Chilkat Valley News, but has stepped away from most newsroom matters since elected to the assembly. There has been no communication between Morphet and the newsroom on this matter.
Meanwhile, police chief Heath Scott said the rumor was made public at the Nov. 1 special meeting because there is no way for the staff to brief the assembly on some law enforcement matters that the police and administration contend should be kept confidential.