Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 4 august 2017

No cops, no problem: Alaska town loses police, but not order

cifically for these kinds of through it,” Varner said.
specialized positions,” said None of the officers had
Bob Griffiths, executive di- been employed for more
rector of the Alaska Police than five months. They
Standards Council. were all new because the
“It is not as difficult for town faced a similar situa-
communities who have a tion earlier this year, when
better financial base as it three officers and a retiring
is for ones who are strug- police chief left soon after
gling financially — as in 90 each other, Varner said.
percent of most of rural “It’s difficult in rural Alaska,”
Alaska.” he said.
The resignations took place “If you’re on an island, you
as the town of nearly 1,000 can’t borrow officers from
people swelled by several the next community.”
hundred for the commer- But the town never went
cial fishing and processing without a police presence
season. But there were no in that case.
big problems when officers In this month’s exodus,
were absent, Sand Point of- there were four days this
ficials said. month that the community
The police standards coun- didn’t have any officers at
cil helped find an acting all.
police chief who arrived There were “a few calls into
last week to help out until the 911 dispatch but they
the jobs are filled. were minor,” Varner said in
This photo provided by city manager Andy Varner shows the harbor in Sand Point, Alaska. The Two of the officers, a mar- an email.
small, isolated town at the edge of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands had no police oversight for several
days after its three officers quit in quick succession and its police chief resigned. Officials say ried couple, quit in early One local said no problems
the predicament that befell Sand Point illustrates the persistent challenges of hiring and retaining July, citing personal family needed to be dealt with
workers in rural parts of the vast state. Town officials say no big problems occurred when officers issues, said City Administra- and the temporary ab-
were absent. tor Andy Varner. sence of police was no big
(Andy Varner/City of Sand Point via AP) The third officer quit soon deal. The town population
By RACHEL D’ORO fell the remote commu- nience of urban centers. after because his military was at its summer peak,
Associated Press nity of Sand Point illustrates Just leaving Sand Point, for spouse was transferring out but the newcomers gener-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) the persistent challenges example, can cost more of state. ally are busy working most
— A small, isolated town at of life in rural parts of the than $1,000 — the cost of a That left only the police of the season, said lifelong
the edge of Alaska’s Aleu- vast state, including hiring round-trip ticket to Anchor- chief, who chose to go on resident Dana Osterback,
tian Islands had no police and keeping workers, offi- age, the state’s largest city a long-planned vacation in who manages the Sand
oversight for several days cials say. Many communi- 600 miles away. Scotland. Varner and the Point Tavern.
after its three officers quit in ties are off Alaska’s limited “It is emblematic of small, City Council decided the “I work at a bar and I never
quick succession, followed road system, where cost- rural Alaska having prob- chief would not have a job had any issues,” she said.
by the police chief’s resig- of-living expenses can be lems, especially in attract- when he returned. His last “And that’s where most of
nation. astronomical and life is far ing and retaining trained day was July 20. the drama happens if it’s
The predicament that be- removed from the conve- and qualified people, spe- “We knew we’d get going to happen.”q

Inky water near Niagara Falls leads to call for resignations

By CAROLYN THOMPSON County Legislature’s Re- The legislators complained County Legislator Rebec- of accumulated solids and
Associated Press publican majority said they have received little ca Wydysh said during a carbon residue. It has apol-
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sev- Thursday they also want the information about an inci- news conference. “We also ogized for alarming resi-
eral lawmakers want the New York attorney general, dent that had the potential need to be assured that it dents and tourists.
board that runs Niagara county district attorney to damage the county’s will never happen again.” Board Chairman Dan
Falls’ wastewater treat- and the Environmental Pro- $827 million-a-year tourism The Niagara Falls Water O’Callaghan read a brief
ment plant to resign after a tection Agency to investi- industry. Board has said the Satur- statement outside the
sewage-smelling discharge gate for possible criminal “Residents deserve to know day afternoon discharge board’s offices late Thurs-
blackened the water near charges. An investigation how this happened, why occurred during routine day saying “possible hu-
the base of the falls during by the state Department of this happened and ex- maintenance of a sedi- man error or a possible me-
a busy tourist weekend. Environmental Conserva- actly what this disgusting mentation basin and con- chanical malfunction” may
Members of the Niagara tion already is underway. discharge was,” Niagara tained permitted amounts have occurred. q