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State covers about $3.9M for VPSO program; Assembly presses for village coverage and hosting capacity
Summary
VPSO Coordinator reported a roughly $3.9 million FY27 award for the VPSO program; Assembly members asked for village-by-village man‑day lists and raised concerns about VPSO housing, scheduling and coverage gaps, especially in Selawik and Kivalina.
VPSO Coordinator Hildebrand told the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly on May 27 that the State will cover approximately $3.9 million for the Village Public Safety Officer program for fiscal year 2027.
President Craig McConnell asked Hildebrand to provide a list showing each village and the number of VPSO man‑days scheduled there. Assemblymembers expressed concern about VPSO scheduling and coverage gaps; BAF Chair Reid Magdanz asked which communities lack infrastructure—housing, storage or equipment—to host VPSOs, naming Selawik and Kivalina as examples. "Are there other communities that are short on infrastructure, housing, storage or equipment to host a VPSO besides Selawik and Kivalina?" Magdanz asked.
Members also questioned how VPSO hours are scheduled and whether communities report unaddressed complaints when officers are unavailable. Mayor Dickie Moto noted borough staff had recently sent people to Noatak to support VPSO housing efforts and asked how much of current VPSO work remains supported from the general fund.
Assembly members asked staff to prepare follow‑up information, including a detailed list of villages and man‑days, and to identify barriers to hosting VPSOs so the borough can target support or temporary solutions such as rental or school‑district facilities.
Next steps: VPSO Coordinator Hildebrand and borough staff were asked to provide a villages‑by‑villages man‑day schedule and report on infrastructure shortfalls and proposed remedies.
