Sitka to look at options for police department investigation

Sitka city officials plan to look at options for a third-party investigation of the local police department.

The Sitka Assembly decision follows lawsuits by two officers and a former jailer.

The Daily Sitka Sentinel reports the officers sued the city, police chief and department, alleging, among other things, they were punished for speaking out. The former jailer alleges he resigned over a hostile work environment in the department.

During a recent meeting, Assembly members Valorie Nelson and Kevin Mosher said the lawsuits and comments from others in the department suggested the need for an outside review.

The Assembly discussed waiting for the legal process to play out before deciding on an outside investigation but after an executive session agreed to explore the options.

Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt declined comment.