Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Chilkat Valley News recently requested an interview with Haines Borough Police Chief Bill Musser, who started on the job early this year. Musser asked that the interview be conducted via email. The CVN's questions, and Musser's responses – verbatim and in their entirety – are printed here.

Q: At this point, what do you see as the department's biggest assets? Biggest challenges?

A: "Our biggest assets are our staff.  They care about the community and want to do a good job. Biggest challenges? Updating equipment and our building."

Q: Historically, we've had a good number of unsolved crimes. What are you doing as chief to improve the investigative abilities of the department?  

A: "Approximately, less than 25 percent of reported crime is cleared nationally. Haines seems to be in that same boat. Items that can help include training, utilizing prevention and education strategies, and working as a team to clear cases."

Q: Where do you think the department could use improvement?  

A: "Improvement comes in many forms and opportunities. I am looking for any opportunity to help develop staff, improve equipment and facilities, and build a cohesive team."

Q: What do you think police priorities should be in a town like Haines? 

A: "Public safety through collaborative partnerships that build on education and prevention of crime; how to deal with life's problems without turning to alcohol, drugs, or violence; and enforcement."

Q: How have you found the town, in general? 

A: "The town is wonderfully diverse with a strong sense of identity, a caring attitude, as well as a sense of independence and self-reliance."

Q: Is your family moving up here? When?  

A: "My daughter will be attending college in Utah after graduation from high school in May, so she will visit from time to time. My wife is looking at joining me in about a year, as she is busy working to help her parents make some life changes. At this time my wife and daughter are planning to join me in Haines for this Christmas."

Q: What changes have you made in terms of staffing and/or policy at the department?  

A: "We have hired a new officer and a new dispatcher, they are currently in training. I am still reviewing processes in the department, from patrol, dispatch, and the jail for needed change."  

Q: What do you think Haines' biggest criminal concerns are? 

A: "I think this answer depends on to whom I am talking to at any given time. We do have crime, but it is not necessarily the same type of crime experienced in more urban areas. I have also learned over time that when a person or someone close to them is victimized, no matter how slight, their personal experience always impacts their concerns. More than anything else, concerns about crime are usually oriented at the fear of being victimized or the fear of crime. This is the major concern, as fear is a qualitative element – one that relies on a person's feelings about the issue, rather than the actual facts and statistics."  

Q: People talk about drugs being a problem in Haines. However, others think they are overblown rumors. What have you observed?  

A: "I have observed we do have drugs of various types in Haines. This does cause concern for me when this type of problem can and will impact our young. I believe adults can and will make their own choices, but their actions are often emulated by the young. Again, this is an issue that needs a collaborative approach to address, as enforcement alone does not impact drug usage."

Q: Why are the troopers always parked over at the police station? Do the two agencies work together on a lot of things? Like what?  

A: "The HBPD is a hub for all public safety personnel as it contains the dispatch center, so troopers as well as our hard working volunteers are often getting information or confirming call data from dispatch.  The troopers also share information from around the area with Haines officers."

Q: What is going on with the dozens of car break-ins from last summer? I take it you have been brought up to speed on that. Lots of people have been asking about if those guys are going to be charged, and when the victims will get their things back.  

A: "The break-ins remain an active investigation that I am working on."