Lawless in Houston

HOUSTON — As of today, the Houston Police Department will reduce in size, from a staff of one to a staff of none.

For now, Alaska State Troopers will take the calls usually fielded by Houston. But according to Houston Mayor Roger Purcell, the department should be back up taking calls by the end of the year.

“We have several good applicants, some with up to six years’ experience,” Purcell said. “We’re hoping to have [one of the open officer positions] filled by the first of December.”

The tiny department began six years and three mayors ago with the hiring of John Rhyshek, the first, and at times only, officer patrolling for the department. Lately it has been back down to one officer.

Rhyshek abruptly left the department in May and since then the position of police captain has remained open.

As of today, the last remaining officer, Jason Holmgren, is leaving to take a job with the Wasilla Police Department.

“It’s nothing major, it’s just family things and benefits and retirements,” Holmgren said of the reasons for his departure. “When you’ve got a chance to take an advantage to upgrade those types of things you have to, for your family. And my family comes first.”

In Wasilla, Holmgren will join officer Al Wysocki, another Houston alum on the Wasilla police force.

Holmgren said he’s sorry to go and has enjoyed the work he’s been able to do in Houston. Even his time as the only officer, he said, was rewarding, if challenging.

“It’s difficult. I guess the best way is just to say it’s difficult. But it’s doable,” Holmgren said.

As of Friday, the lone job posting on Houston’s Web site was for a police officer.

Lee Himes, a city councilman who also serves as the city’s public safety liaison, working with both the fire and police departments, said the council plans to fill both Holmgren’s spot and Rhyshek’s.

“Our main concern is we’re trying to get somebody that’s more experienced, someone that has more time in law enforcement, more of a background in law enforcement,” Himes said of the captain’s spot.

Purcell backed up Himes’ assessment. He said the city wants to hire officers who have already been trained for police work, rather than paying to put fresh recruits through the police academy.

Purcell, whose wife works for the Anchorage Police Department, said he thinks the department has a lot to offer folks in other departments in the state.

First, there are fewer police calls. Houston officers have the opportunity to patrol the neighborhood and meet city residents, instead of constantly responding to calls.

“My wife did 1,400 misdemeanor reports last year,” Purcell said. “They didn’t even do 200 for the whole year here.”

Another advantage, he said, to folks in far-flung departments around the state, is Houston’s location on Alaska’s road system.

Purcell and Himes both said they were sorry to see Holmgren go.

“He’s well-respected and the town likes him,” Purcell said. “We were looking to get a better medical plan for him and his family to keep him here.”

Both also said they understood Holmgren’s reasons for leaving.

In Himes’ words, “You’ve got to think about your wife and kids, you’ve got to think about your retirement, health benefits and things like this.”

As of press time, the city planned to award Holmgren a plaque thanking him for his service and his wife a bouquet of flowers.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.