Long named Wasilla police chief

Jan. 31, 2007

By LEILA KHEIRY

Frontiersman

WASILLA - The &#8220glass ceiling” at the Wasilla Police Department shattered this week when the city decided to promote longtime Wasilla police officer, and most recently deputy chief, Angella Long to replace outgoing Chief John Glass.

Long will be the department's first woman police chief, and she said she's thrilled.

&#8220It's another one of those glass ceilings that just got broken,” she said.

Chief Glass - who has nothing to do with the ceiling - recently accepted a position with the state Department of Public Safety as deputy commissioner under Commissioner Walt Monegan.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, Long said she looks forward to leading the department, but said she doesn't anticipate any big change. She will strive to continue technological improvements at WPD, she said, but otherwise, &#8220the department is in really good shape.”

It takes a certain kind of mindset for someone to succeed in a law enforcement career, she said.

&#8220I'm fortunate to have a whole crowd working for me,” Long said. &#8220I can't go wrong. This crew is great.”

Long also said she's pleased her gender didn't keep her from obtaining a leadership position.

&#8220Anytime a woman makes rank, I think it's a great thing,” she said. &#8220Women have a lot of assets that are real useful when it comes to law enforcement.”

While not denigrating male officers or their abilities, Long explained that some members of the public tend to be less aggressive when dealing with female officers, that women tend to be a little more nurturing, and that women usually have good listening skills.

Long has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience in the state of Alaska, according to a news release from the city. She started as a police officer at the newly formed Wasilla Police Department on March 1, 1993, was promoted to acting sergeant on May 23, 2006, and became deputy chief on July 7.

Long said Wednesday that she has enjoyed participating in the department's growth. The Wasilla Police Department is not even 14 years old, she said, and she was an officer there before the department officially was formed. There were no vehicles then, she said, and only one desk. The department has since grown to 23 sworn officers and a dispatch center.

&#8220Wasilla PD has really made a name for itself across the state,” Long said. &#8220We've got nowhere to go but forward.”

Long holds an Alaska Police Standards Council advanced certificate, and is the third-term president of the Alaska Peace Officers Association, according to the city. She is also a board member with the Women Police of Alaska and the International Association of Women Police.

Long has lived in Wasilla for 12 years with her husband, John.

&#8220Angella Long will be an excellent police chief,” Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller said in a prepared statement. &#8220Her experience, competence, and management skills will serve this community well. We expect a smooth transition and will advertise to fill the deputy chief position to get someone to assist Angella in this capacity as soon as possible.”

Glass said Wednesday that, if it had been up to him, he also would have chosen Long.

&#8220I think it's fantastic,” he said. &#8220I support her 100 percent.”

Glass said he couldn't have asked for a better deputy chief, and while there are projects he regrets leaving behind, he knows Long will take care of them.

Glass started with Wasilla Police Department as deputy chief on Feb. 6, 2006. When Chief Don Savage retired on July 6, Glass was promoted to chief.

Glass will begin his new position with the state on Feb. 12. He said he's not sure exactly what his focus will be in his new job, but he'll find out after he meets with the commissioner.

Contact Leila Kheiry at 352-2270 or at leila.kheiry@frontiersman.com.