Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The annual fireworks show will take place at 11:59 p.m. Jul. Sitka Police Department (AK) is in the Police1 Law Enforcement Directory. KCAW spoke with city attorney Brian Hanson, who says the city admits no fault as a result of the settlement. When the Sitka Assembly met on August 11, Sitka's police chief, Robert Baty, presented a quarterly report. The kind of agency that lets police bullies continue working within it probably doesnt really care what an independent investigator found, Jim Davis, an attorney for Ferguson and the other plaintiffs, told Alaskas News Source Thursday. Hes done it all, from working undercover to major homicide investigations to working as a trooper in the bush. Another detective, Ryan Silva,settled a whistleblower suit with the citylast December for over $300,000. Ive had a lot of positions in town, a lot of jobs. Brady says the current short staffing means a pay raise of $5 would be budget neutral right now. In many ways Im only considered a carpetbagger in this town, Im only here for a minute, Ankerfelt said. The people who are there right now, they care about Sitka, Christner said. I want to be optimistic about the city doing something about all of these complaints that have been still occurring. Even so, Davis says the settlement is a good outcome for Ferguson because its not clear where a jury would have landed. Dunleavy appointee resigns after being accused of lying about his credentials, Alaskas US senators veer apart on shutdown votes, Unalaska readies to deploy traps for invasive European green crabs, An Army division in Alaska is combatting high suicide rates with mandatory wellness counseling, Wasilla man missing after his canoe capsized on the Little Susitna. Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) 2023/2024 Winter Schedule is now open for public comment over the next two weeks. I can be protecting children and victims of abuse right now, but Im not, she said. Baty complained that Sitkans werent hearing the positive news about local law enforcement, and that its successes were overshadowed by the intense scrutiny policing has received since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. He even opened a gym here, Body World Gym, but he got a taste for policing while working as a security guard at Mt. Find agency contact, demographics, type, population served and more. Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Three former employees of the Sitka Police Department who sued the City and Borough of Sitka over claims that they were treated unfairly and forced out of jobs, have settled their disputes for a combined total of nearly $900,000. Ive been happy with him in his interim role, Brady said. 4, several sections of roadway in the downtown Juneau area, as well as Douglas, will be closed for parades. Interview: Will SAFE Banking make it through the Senate? This time last year, there were six vacancies. You didnt hear about that.. Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - On Monday, Jul. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. Mark Twain. Alaska Police Department Scores Rankings are based upon a 0 to 100 percentage scale. All are in ongoing litigation. When I first started there I thought the environment was completely toxic. I practiced on my own and developed into a pretty decent composite artist.. These are ongoing issues, and even under new leadership, even with new officers, these are still happening, and they still need to be addressed, she said. In Oct. 2018, Mary Fergusonfiled suit against the cityalleging she had been sexually harassed and discriminated against in the workplace. Officers Ryan Silva and Mary Ferguson spoke together. Ive been asking for the city to make the police department a safe place to work. Posting Section: AK Wildlife Troopers. A lot of this stuff, it truly is just mentorship, and I think you can learn a lot from other leaders that way.. . Batys report to the Sitka assembly was billed as a quarterly event. Edgecumbe Hospital. He has been on leave in recent months and his last day was officially June 2, Brady said. And competing jobs that pay better. Update the categories youd like to receive notifications about. Smart (and safe) start planned for Baranof Elementary School, Meet Air Station Sitkas new Coast Guard commander, Brian McLaughlin, KCAW Annual EEO Report/CPB Employment Statistical Report. Now hes ready to take on challenges within a department that have spawned 3 lawsuits in 10 months, and once again to call Sitka home. Learn to leave your car behind at the Alaska Walk and Bike Conference, Felony count climbs to 13 in sexual assault case against Sitka doctor, KCAW Annual EEO Report/CPB Employment Statistical Report. And officers have been pushing for a new police building. Later, during persons to be heard, officer Jayson Christner spoke in favor of current leadership at the department. 18 SPD officers made contact with 44-year-old Michael Souza as he exited the jetway. Officers Ryan Silva and Mary Ferguson spoke together. Leach declined to comment in detail, citing the confidentiality of past and present employees. Wein noted that Baty was able to save the city thousands of dollars by getting troopers to perform security duties for a recent Prince of Wales murder trial. Ankerfelt and city administrator Keith Brady noted that two of the officers leaving were doing so for jobs with the state troopers that offered better pay. Sitka, Alaska: VIew of the harbor and the Totem Square Hotel and Marina in Sitka, Alaska. The Assembly directed city staff and Ankerfelt to continue developing a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan for the Assembly to review at a future meeting. The state Department of Health and Social Services has posted the following update on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alaska as of 12:15 pm Tuesday, June 6. (KCAW/James) The Sitka Police Department is nearing the end of a two-year period marred by several lawsuits brought by former employees. Ive been practicing law for almost 30 years now, and I havent seen any case where one absolutely essential part of the settlement was, as Mary demanded here, an impartial investigation of the police department, he said. Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - Sitka Police are seeking information in relation to an animal cruelty incident that occurred on June 23. A year later, Ed was sworn in as a full-time Police Officer. Sitka police are revisiting the unsolved disappearance of a woman nine years ago, hoping new eyes and new investigative tools can make a difference. Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Jul. (Photo by Karla James/KCAW) Concerns over a hostile workplace culture surfaced Tuesday night during a presentation to the Sitka Assembly calling for higher police. To visit the Alaska DHSS Corona Response dashboard website clickhere. I really like coming to work. My training for the department is ongoing. Calling the Sitka police over and getting a resolution, he said. I was able to hear what the concerns of the community were and express some of my own, and get feedback.. Your workplace should not feel like Survivor Island and members should not feel exiled.. It absolutely makes me feel betrayed, Ferguson said. . The way we have been doing it has been very wasteful, Ankerfelt said. Ferguson, Silva, a detective who also did investigative work with the Coast Guard, and Shepherd, a jail employee, are no longer employed by the police department. Assembly members twice voted against hiring the last department head, the planning director, with some members balking at the salary offer of $93,000. Last Updated on Jul 5 2023, 2:53 pm AKDT. Ive been asking for the city to make the Police Department a safe place to work. Fergusons attorney, Jim Davis with the Northern Justice Project, says her case was strong enough to go to trial. The thing that Im missing out on by settling this case, is I dont get to go before a jury, and I dont get to have my evidence presented.. After graduating, he became a Reserve Officer with the Sitka Police Department in 1992. If the investigation reveals that there needs to be further action, I will be right there, supporting that further action.. KCAW is our partner station in Sitka. RELATED: Sitka fired a police officer for assaulting prisoners. Its cost us roughly $2.4 million in overtime, just for short shifts. Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Spencer Fielding, a meteorologist with National Weather Service Juneau talked to News of the North about how the weather's looking the week of Jul. The dopest content, straight to your inbox. During these past 6 years, Chief Mercer has led the Juneau Police Department with integrity and courage. When the troopers did increase their pay, their academies are full right now.. Powered by Aiir. Baty told the assembly that he was hired to address systemic problems within the department. Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - Sitka Police are seeking information in relation to an animal cruelty incident that occurred on June 23. Ferguson, on the other hand, had hoped to take her case all the way to trial. Right now, Ankerfelt says the department is staffed at 12 when they have the capacity to hire 16. On 7/1/23, Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted the C/V Tamryn C, in Sitka Sound. 14 the Sitka Police Department received information from the Alaska State Troopers that a Sitka resident would be flying into Sitka on a commercial airline with a controlled substance. Now the Sitka Assembly must approve his hire (KCAW/Rose) After a turbulent year, Sitka finally has a new police chief. Unfortunately, the cat had been shot in the eye and the bullet did enter her skull but fortunately did not kill her. Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt said that high turnover in his department was more than a matter of pay. Photo caption: Sitka Symposium founders stand outside Old Harbor Books in this 1983 photo. Well outlast the carpetbagger, the guy who wants to make the changes. Bill Walker has said hes committed to upholding the will of Alaskans, who voted in 2014 to legalize adult use of marijuana.
The City of Sitka has settled a lawsuit with a police department whistleblower for $325,000. Davis says the work could cost Ferguson $10,000-$30,000. Job Description: City and Borough of Sitka seeks a qualified team member to fill the full-time, permanent position of Police Officer. Showing you dispensaries near United States. Get notifications about news related to the topics you care about. Interim Sitka Police Chief Robert Baty has been selected for the permanent position as chief, City Administrator Keith Brady said today. Ankerfelt doesnt attribute all of this turnover to low pay. Concerns over a hostile workplace culture surfaced Tuesday night, during a presentation to the Sitka Assembly calling for higher police wages. Its cost us roughly $2.4 million in overtime, just for short shifts. Police in Sitka are investigating vandalism at the Russian Cemetery. Juneau, AK (KINY) - A lawsuit has been filed against the Sitka Police Department for sexual harassment, gender inequality, and the demotion of a detective that is being called retaliatory. Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt said that high turnover in his department was more than a matter of pay: The problem stemmed in part from an environment he described as completely toxic prior to his arrival. In an email, Leach wrote, We will not speculate on or discuss items that are not relevant to the work we have specifically been involved with during our employment.. Historically, the Sitka Police Department has been a depressing place to work. Because Ferguson wont see justice before a jury, shes putting her hopes on the second part of the settlement, which allows her to pay for an independent investigation into the police department a circumstance which Davis says is very rare. Robert Baty has worked in various law enforcement positions across the state for the past 33 years, from homicide investigator to composite artist.
Ankerfelt was unavailable for comment. Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt says the police department has a major retention problem. The city denies the allegations in both cases, but when Ferguson spoke, she called for the city to intervene in the management of the Police Department, claiming the departments workplace culture was a top-down problem. Fergusons is the third suit brought by a former Sitka police employee that has been settled in recent months. We told our employees that if they want to speak with Judge Smith, theyre more than welcome to do so. Chief Mercer is committed to . By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Just having little interactions like that. Inspired, in 1986 he went to the Trooper Academy and hes been policing in Alaska ever since. Shell provide that investigation to the Sitka Assembly with the hopes that theyll use it to take action. The AP is one of the world's largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. Investigation revealed Caleb Suarez, age 24, of Sitka was guiding four clients on a guided sport fishing trip and had aided in the violations of failing to record non-resident king salmon landings . The self-described Coast Guard brat grew up in Juneau, and lived all over the U.S. before returning to Sitka when he was 17 and his father was stationed on the cutter Woodrush. The spate of settlements did not put an end to the complaints, however. But the agency says theres insufficient research on whether the plant works to treat or cure those conditions. Brady said the current short staffing means a pay raise of $5 would be budget neutral right now. Sheldon Schmitt 304 Lake St Sitka, Alaska 99835 (907)747-3245 The amazing thing to me though was that the suspect lived 130 miles away, he said. We understand that compensation like this is not a silver bullet to the issues that we have with the PD, but its something that we can do to help with at least recruitment potentially retention for the longterm, Bradysaid. Both officers have filed separate whistleblower suits against the city for harassment and discrimination. From left are Don Muller, Cheryl Morse, Marylin Newman and Caroline Servid. The assembly opened public testimony on the matter and learned that not everyone agrees with the chiefs assessment. Whether its a part of the national conversation or not, the Sitka Police Department still has work to do, she said. The city denies the allegations in both cases, but when Ferguson spoke, she called for the city to intervene in the management of the police department, claiming the departments workplace culture was a top-down problem. Now, under a new record-keeping system, the daily reports provided to media consist of a single word or two, like traffic stop or citizen assist. Except for one incident in mid-June in Sitkas harbor regarding a man with a knife, KCAW has no record of news releases from the department about any of the activities Baty describedheroic or otherwise. the Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka, Alaska. Since August 2018 the city has seen a whistleblower lawsuit and a harassment suit filed by two former detectives, and a third suit filed by a former jailer. The advertisement for the job said the city was looking for a dynamic leader, an experienced manager and a practitioner of community policing principles., Sitka interim Police Chief Robert Baty, left, is introduced by Sitka Fire Chief Dave Miller at an April joint Assembly and School Board meeting at Centennial Hall. And officers have been pushing for a new police building. You can unsubscribe anytime. Ankerfelt doesnt attribute all of this turnover to low pay. But Deputy Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz wondered if he could get more information. Baty, a former Alaska State Trooper, has excellent references, and extensive experience in policing, Brady said. The problem stemmed in part from an environment he described as completely toxic prior to his arrival. The jailer still works in the department under Baty, and in a recent interview with KCAW, Allison Kirby said she believed the culture of racism she experienced during her work immediately prior to Batys tenure had not changed. Hes able to command respect but also give it. Country: United States Address 1: 304 Lake St #102 City: Sitka State: Alaska Zip Code: 99835-7563 County: Sitka County Phone #: 907-747-3245 At the time Ferguson, Silva and Noah Shepherd had filed lawsuits, the department had a different police chief.
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