Assembly tables police proposition

July 15, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- The rapid growth in population in the Mat-Su Borough has stretched the ability of Alaska State Troopers to provide the enforcement residents desire. Increases in the number of home burglaries and incidents of vandalism in areas outside the cities of Palmer and Wasilla have skyrocketed.

Concerned for the safety of borough residents, Mayor Tim Anderson commissioned a task force to study the need for forming a borough police force. The task force recommended that the borough put forward a ballot proposition asking the voters to grant police powers.

The assembly, during its June 21 meeting, rejected putting the question on the ballot, wanting more information.

During a work session Tuesday night, the assembly questioned task force members and borough officials about the need for adopting police powers.

"I understand the need for having police powers, but there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered before we move forward," Assembly Member Jim Colver said. "The proposed ballot question just asked voters to allow us to have police powers. It didn't include any information about how we are going to fund it, how we are going to provide powers and where the powers will be enacted."

Jane Wineinger, a member of the task force, emphasized the recommendation to allow voters to decide if they want a borough police force, but also suggested that the assembly bring a representative up from the National Sheriff's Association to discuss issues related with starting a force before moving ahead.

"We wanted to have someone come up and address the task force, but were unable to do that," Wineinger said. "Getting information from someone like that is the smartest way to move forward."

Assembly members stressed the need for more information before asking voters to approve police powers.

"I like to think that this borough is proactive in trying to meet the needs of its residents," Assembly Member Betty Vehrs said. "But from what I've seen, we're not ready for a police department. We don't have any funding, plans for implementation to show voters before it goes on the ballot. I'd hate to see us rush in again on a project when we have things like the port still hanging over us."

"There are other things that come along with policing that we are not addressing," Assembly Member Jody Simpson said. "A new police force would also need a court system, jails and a legal division. Not to mention the additional liability of the borough increasing."

Tuesday's work session was the first opportunity the assembly had to review the proposal and discuss the implementation of police powers, something that troubled some members.

"I don't know what the rush is," Assembly Member Lynne Woods said during the discussion. "Why didn't we talk to experts now, before discussing this ordinance."

"You know we just didn't have the time to do the work that had to be done before moving forward with this," Colver said. "Since we were tied up in budget discussions, everything seemed to be set aside and now we try to rush it through. That is not fair to the voters."

Colver believed the issue will resurface.

"We need to have a plan. Those of us who want it need to get together and develop some sort of plan about policing before we move forward," Colver said.

"We have a responsibility to take leadership on the issue, before bringing it to the voters."

Contact Darrell Breese at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.