Bethel police force growing in numbers

ALEX DeMARBAN

June 19, 2008 at 3:30PM AKST

Bethel’s police force has muscled up in recent weeks, increasing to eight officers after coming close to disappearing, its new police chief said.  

The force for the city of 5,800 plunged to two officers in early March, with some saying they were overworked, underpaid and doing bland work because important cases were turned over to better-manned Alaska State Troopers.

During the decline, a few contract officers helped keep a police presence on the street, Police Chief Larry Elarton said.  

The turnover left outgoing officers in the city wondering if the station would shut down completely.

But the force has grown quickly, thanks to strong Internet advertising, a lot of interviews with job candidates, and better pay and benefits approved by the City Council, Elarton said. He said he plans to hire as many as 14 officers.

The new crop, comprised entirely of senior officers, is well-rounded, he said. Some are from Alaska, with police experience in the villages of Sand Point and St. Marys, as well as at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Elarton also hired a couple of officers he has worked with in the past, including Sgt. Chris Salyers. Salyers worked in eastern Colorado’s Washington County where Elarton served as undersheriff.

Alex DeMarban can be reached at (907) 348-2444 or (800) 770-9830, ext. 444.