Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Houston's police department is back.

The community of 1,600 that straddles the Parks Highway just north of Wasilla has hired two new officers to replace the department's sole officer who left the job in mid-November for a position with the Wasilla police department.

The two new officers are scheduled to begin work Monday and will make about $37,000 a year to start.

Officer Charlie Seidl, 31, worked for five years with Bethel's police department and one year at Dillingham. He grew up in Koliganek near Dillingham. Officer Elizabeth Carrier, 41, spent the last year serving as the only officer in Sand Point, a town in the Aleutian chain about 570 miles southwest of Anchorage. The town also has a chief.

Carrier grew up in Maryland. Both attended police academies, Seidl in Alaska and Carrier in Michigan.

Both have families, military experience, and will live in Houston under new city requirements for the job.

Both also bring a higher level of experience to the department, which until now has hired officers with less time or training in law enforcement, said Mayor Roger Purcell.

The city is also hoping to hire a chief, though officials want to wait until they find someone with qualifications including at least 10 years experience, Purcell said.

The Alaska State Troopers stepped up patrols in Houston while the city was without police, and will continue to provide backup, city officials said.

ADVERTISEMENT