The Haines Public Safety Commission is attempting to rebrand itself by changing its name to the Public Health and Safety Commission.

Haines Police Chief Heath Scott proposed the name change, and to add three ex-officio members to the commission to represent SEARHC, SEARHC’s Lynn Canal Counseling and the local school.

Police encounter very few “hardened criminals” in Haines, Scott said during last month’s meeting, but deal with many people who are “mental health consumers in crisis” as well as substance abusers and addicts.

“Having these partners at the table we say to the community that these are instrumental folks in solving long-term problems,” Scott said. “I don’t mean to harp on this, but I think the naming convention speaks volumes. It allows people to interpret how we address problems as an organization.”

Commission member Bill McCord said pairing police and social services is an “unholy relationship” for an addict or substance abuser.

“When the two are coupled together it winds up having a negative influence on what our objective is and that’s to get diagnosis and treatment for somebody,” McCord said. “That’s not to fault the police, they have to enforce the law. It’s that straightforward and the law is you’re not supposed to be messing with drugs. A social worker must work with a patient, which is different from the law.”

Scott said the method of policing he’s proposing is a “paradigm shift.”

“Instead of bringing a guy to a detention facility for a crime, I acknowledge the fact that they’re a substance abuser or they’re in mental health crisis and I bring them to somebody that can resolve those issues,” Scott said. “I’m trying to circumvent the criminal justice system as it is built for the betterment of the people within our community.”

McCord asked Scott whether or not he was required enforce the law if he witnessed illegal activity.

“It would depend on the set of circumstances,” Scott said. “I am more in tune with making sure I don’t see somebody a second, third or fourth time and getting them the help…”

“I’m not asking what you’re in tune with,” McCord interrupted. “Aren’t you required by the law to report it?”

Scott repeated that it would depend on the set of circumstances. “If they violated the law I make an arrest. But we can still help,” Scott said. “This isn’t something that I’m proposing that we do. This is something that we’re doing. This is how I operate. This is what you bought.”

LCC Counselor Dave McCormick said substance abuse issues are a public health problem, not a criminal justice problem.

“Most people wouldn’t walk into my office if they didn’t have some kind of initial contact,” McCormick said. “That gets people into the door. I don’t see this as a liability.”

The safety commission voted 4-1, with McCord the dissenting vote, to recommend the name change.

They also included adding code into the commission’s duties that includes, “provide and coordinate with professional agencies for health issues as they relate to public safety.”

The Haines Borough Assembly must approve the final code changes.