After a five month “sabbatical” from the Haines Borough Police Department, officer Brayton Long unearthed his old uniform, ironed it, and headed back to work on Saturday.
Long, who resigned in May after three and a half years to begin operating a local tour company, will serve a three-month contract with the police department, replacing departing officer Adam Patterson while the department decides its next move. Patterson has relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I’m helping out until they can go through the whole process again,” Long said. “It’s easier for me to come in because I’m certified, I’ve done the job already. I still have my gear – it’s just a matter of putting it on and going to work.”
Long said he’s willing to stay on past January, but intends to return to his company, Alaska Local Tours, next summer.
“I’m definitely not going to give up my tour, I’m still full-steam ahead,” Long said. “The minivan tours were pretty successful. It’s fun talking with people from all over the world.”
Police chief Heath Scott said hiring back Long, who’s volunteered for the department since July as an auxiliary officer, was a common-sense decision. “He’s an asset to any community and he’s an asset to the police department,” Scott said.
He said that the decision on whether to hire a full-time or part-time officer to permanently fill Patterson’s position is forthcoming, and will include input from the borough manager, officers and dispatch.
Officer Chris Brown resigned from the station, effective this week, Scott said on Monday. The police department will operate with four officers, including Scott, until January.