The Haines Borough Police Department is considering applications for a fifth officer to bring the force back to full staffing. The position has been vacant since officer Chris Brown left the department last year.

The first review of applications was scheduled for March 20. At present, the department has one or two applicants for the position. “We definitely have one; we’re trying to solidify a second one,” police chief Heath Scott said.

The confirmed application is from someone in Haines, Scott said. The second application is from an individual outside Alaska who submitted it sometime before the job was posted. Scott said the department is trying to contact the individual to see if they are still interested. 

Scott declined to provide the name of either applicant.

Scott said the process is ongoing and he should know more next week once they make a determination about the second applicant. After that, those involved in the hiring process will either interview both applicants, potentially using a platform like Skype as a social distancing measure, or they will proceed to review the sole application.

The department will continue to accept applications until the position is filled, Scott said.