Two members of the Wrangell Police Department made a four-day trip to Ketchikan last week for some training, according to city officials. The trip raised some questions, as the city has an ongoing moratorium for employees traveling outside of Wrangell during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trip was made with the full awareness of the borough assembly, it is reported, and an exception for the travel ban exists for public safety training.
Chief Tom Radke said that Officers Connor Philips and Nick Pearson made the trip for training on interviewing and interrogation techniques. It was a course for learning how to talk to people, draw out important information, read cues, and other techniques for communication in police work. Radke explained that the training was originally set to take place in Anchorage, but was cancelled when the COVID-19 pandemic first broke
out in Alaska. It was rescheduled to take place in Ketchikan, which he pointed out was even closer and cheaper than originally planned. The training had been budgeted for, and Radke said city officials were aware of the planned trip.
"People want people trained, you got to leave the island to get trained," he said.
Mayor Steve Prysunka confirmed Radke's statement that the borough assembly was aware of the trip to Ketchikan, and the officers went on their authorization. The officers left on Alaska Airlines and were traveling as responsibly as possible, he said.
Prysunka went on to explain that it was true, in general, that the city did not want its employees to travel during the pandemic. However, he said certain exceptions are in place. For public safety training, life safety training, or for city employees to receive or retain important certifications, travel is allowed. The trip to Ketchikan, he said, was one such exception.
Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen also commented on the training in Ketchikan.
"The Borough cut all travel and training from the budget, except for first responder and safety sensitive positions, and positions with required certifications where continuing education training is necessary," she wrote in an email, forwarded to the Sentinel. "All non-essential training/travel was cut. There are currently two officers in Ketchikan attending training. That training was pre-approved in the FY21 Budget. However, as has been indicated by the Mayor, all non-essential training/travel was cut."
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