The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Haines Borough $125,000 to hire a sixth police officer, but the borough might have to give it back.
Borough Manager Debra Schnabel said the borough applied for the grant when staff created an ordinance that would have expanded police service borough-wide.
The borough assembly did not advance the ordinance due to community opposition.
“We applied in anticipation for the expansion of the police service area,” Schnabel said. “We are in a position right now of having received a grant for a sixth officer but we don’t have any plans to hire a sixth officer.”
Schnabel said staff are investigating whether or not the borough can use the money for the fifth officer who was recently hired, but said that outcome isn’t likely. She said the borough might also keep the grant until the assembly and community decide whether or not they want to expand police service.
“From this vantage point there’s two options,” Schnabel said. “Are we going to and how are we going to expand police service outside the townsite? Or we send it back.”
The grant comes from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The money would fund an officer position for three years and would require the borough to contribute a $158,827 match, a grant award letter states.
“If, for any reason, your agency finds that your community policing strategies have significantly changed from those outlined in your application (e.g., because you received fewer officers than originally requested and thus must alter the scope of your community policing strategies), please revise the strategy accordingly and submit it to the COPS Office for review and approval,” the letter states.
Schnabel will discuss the grant award with the assembly at their Nov. 28 regular meeting.