VPSO task force releases recommendations to state Senate
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ A task force set up to look at Alaska's Village Public Safety Officer program has submitted its recommendations to the state Senate.
Task force members say a substantial pay hike would go a long way toward recruiting and retaining VPSOS.
Among its recommendations, the task force wants to raise the hourly rate for starting VPSOs to $21, up from the current $16.55 an hour.
The current VPSO force is 51 officers. The task force wants to build it to 111 officers over four years, putting two VPSOs in communities with more than 500 residents.
It's up to legislators to decide whether to fund the proposed changes.