KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
The Kodiak Police Department has a new lieutenant.
As of yesterday morning, Sgt. Francis de la Fuente is now Lt. Francis de la Fuente, one of two lieutenants with KPD. De la Fuente joined KPD in 2007 and will move to support services.
His duties will include scheduling officer training and animal control.
“I’m handling two civilian sergeants, and so I oversee dispatch and corrections.”
The last person to fill the position was Tim Putney, who became police chief this year.
The Kodiak Police Department is looking for new recruits in addition to moving around current employees.
Putney says KPD’s former drug detective left the position a couple of months ago and his replacement will take over in the beginning of July.
He adds that the size of Kodiak’s drug unit has changed over the years, ranging from two officers and one state trooper to only one officer.
“I think the ultimate goal by the end of the year is to have another state trooper working with our drug detective, and the more the better.”
According to Putney, there are currently 17 officers in the City of Kodiak, which has a population of fewer than 7,000, and KPD is aiming for 20 officers.
