Sitka Police Department

08/27/2026

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗘

Notice is hereby given that the City and Borough of Sitka, pursuant to SGC 9.10.025 and AS 28.11.070, will sell the following abandoned vehicle(s) at public auction to the highest bidder. These vehicles have been removed from public or private property and have not been reclaimed within the legal notice period.
Blue 1987 Dodge Pickup
VIN (last 6 digits) 369224
The auction is scheduled to be held at 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 16, 2026, online at https://www.publicsurplus.com/.
All sales are final. Sold "As-ls, Where-ls" with no warranties. Payment must be made in full by cash, certified check or credit card at the time of sale. Purchasers will be issued with a Municipal Bill of Sale. Per AS 28.11.070(b), the vehicle must be titled through the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before it can be legally operated or resold.
The city reserves the right to withdraw any listed property from the auction at any time before the auction sale of that property.

08/18/2026

*****PSA*****
The Sitka Police Department would like to remind everyone the 2026-27 school year begins tomorrow and the buses will be back on the road to safely transport our students to class. Please allow a bit of extra time for your commute so that everyone’s kids can get to their destinations safely.

Here are some tips for navigating buses on the road:

• Allow a greater distance between your car and the school bus so you can stop when the bus flashes its lights.
• Be aware that it is illegal in all 50 states to pass a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children.
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the bus driver extended the stop-arm, you must stop and wait for the children to load or unload. It is illegal and dangerous to pass a school bus while their red lights are flashing.

Remember to be more mindful while driving during this time, especially during the first few weeks after school starts when young, teenage drivers are venturing out on their first drives to schools; and plenty of kids are walking and biking to school on busy roads. Stay safe and Be Bright, Be Seen.

08/14/2026

*****PSA*****
Know the lane. Use it correctly. Drive safely.

Turn lanes are designed to help drivers safely prepare for and make a turn. They are not additional travel lanes or merging lanes.

When approaching a designated turn lane:
• Enter the turn lane only when you intend to make the corresponding turn.
• Do not use a turn lane to pass other vehicles or bypass traffic.
• Do not treat a turn lane as a lane for merging into through traffic.
• Check your mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a turn lan al your intentions early and give other drivers enough time to react.
• If you miss your turn, continue safely and find another legal place to turn around rather than making a sudden or unsafe maneuver.

Remember: A turn lane is for turning—not for merging, passing, or getting around traffic. An accident did, and will, happen due to improper use of turn lane.
Using turn lanes properly keeps traffic predictable, reduces conflicts, and helps protect everyone on the road. Stay alert. Signal. Use turn lanes correctly. Get there safely.

08/12/2026

*****Update*****
Ben was located deceased on 8/12/26.

*****Missing Person*****
Ben Le was reported missing on 08-10-2026 at 2020 hours after failing to return from a planned hike. He was last seen that morning at approximately 0830 hours near the fish hatchery in Port Armstrong. He was last seen wearing a black windbreaker with a blue short sleeve t-shirt underneath, black hiking style pants, rubber boots, and black biking type gloves. Anyone having contactor information regarding Ben Le is asked to contact the Alaska State Troopers in Juneau at 907-465-4000 and reference incident AK26078379.

08/06/2026

*****Update*****
Wilma has been located safe.

*****Missing Person*****
Wilma Leslie was last seen on 08-03-2026 at approximately 7:48 PM, when she left the SEARHC short-term patient housing located at 201 Tongass Drive in Sitka. Her last communication was via text to a family member on 08-06 2026 around 11:45 AM.

Leslie was last seen wearing a black jacket and dark colored pants. Anyone having contact or information regarding Wilma Leslie is asked to contact the Sitka Police Department at 907-747-3245 and reference case number 26-0302.

08/03/2026

*****Press Release*****
On 7/23/26, at approximately 11:20 PM, the Sitka Police Department received a report from Department of Transportation that a vehicle had driven off with one of their Barnacle Parking devices on its windshield.

Officers and DOT personnel were able to track the device’s GPS and went to the last pinged location on Katlian Street, near the Marine Service Center sea wall. Officers were unable to locate the device anywhere in the area, leading officers to believe it had been thrown into the water.

On 7/26/26 the Sitka Fire Department, using the underwater rover, was able to locate and retrieve the device from approximately 100 feet near the sea wall.

On 7/30/26 the Sitka Grand Jury indicted 58-year-old Curtis P Nelson, of Anchorage, on one felony count of Theft in the Second Degree and one felony count of Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree.

08/01/2026

URGENT SERVICE UPDATE: Sitka Police Department 911 & Non-Emergency

**For Immediate Release**

The Sitka Police Department is currently experiencing a total outage of its 911 and non-emergency phone systems due to a fiber optic cable break earlier today.
• For ALL Emergencies and Non-Emergencies: Please call the temporary backup line at (907) 623-0911.
• Alternative Contact: You can also reach dispatch via email at [email protected].
Please share this information with neighbors and community members to ensure everyone knows how to reach emergency services during this outage. Updates will be provided as soon as regular phone services are restored.

Mike Hall
Chief of Police

08/01/2026

*****PSA*****
The City and Borough of Sitka (CBS) is currently experiencing a telephone service outage due to damage to telecommunications infrastructure earlier today. At this time, all CBS telephone lines, including those serving the Sitka Police Department and Sitka Fire Department, are affected.
The service provider crews are actively working to assess the damage and restore service. We will provide updates as additional information becomes available.
If you are unable to reach 911 or a City emergency service by phone:
• For police assistance, call Sitka Police Dispatch at 907.747.3245.
• You may also email the Sitka Police Department Dispatch at [email protected] if you are unable to reach them by phone and your situation is not an immediate life-threatening emergency.
• For fire or EMS assistance, call 907.738.3473.
• If one phone or service provider does not connect, please try another phone or another available service if possible.
We appreciate your patience while repairs are underway. Please share this information so others in the community are aware of the temporary disruption.

8/5/2026 ***Update***

We received confirmation from ACS last night that repairs to the damaged telecommunications infrastructure have been completed and services should now be operating normally.

The City and Borough of Sitka (CBS) is currently experiencing a telephone service outage due to damage to telecommunications infrastructure earlier today. At this time, all CBS telephone lines, including those serving the Sitka Police Department and Sitka Fire Department, are affected.

The service provider crews are actively working to assess the damage and restore service. We will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

If you are unable to reach 911 or a City emergency service by phone:
• For police assistance, call Sitka Police Dispatch at 907.747.3245.
• You may also email the Sitka Police Department Dispatch at [email protected] if you are unable to reach them by phone and your situation is not an immediate life-threatening emergency.
• For fire or EMS assistance, call 907.738.3473.
• If one phone or service provider does not connect, please try another phone or another available service if possible.

We appreciate your patience while repairs are underway. Please share this information so others in the community are aware of the temporary disruption.

07/31/2026

*****PSA*****
On 7/31/26, at approximately 11:30 AM, the Sitka Police Department responded to a vehicle versus utility line accident that has affected telecommunications and it will be impacting the ability to reach emergency services through some phone providers until the line is repaired.

What to Expect and What to Do:
• You may experience difficulty reaching 911 or other emergency services
• If you receive a busy signal or your call does not connect, please try an alternative method:
• Call Sitka Police Dispatch directly at 907.747.3245
• Use landline/analog, digital landlines/VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), or mobile alternatives if one method fails
• Try calling again from a different provider or location

We have been informed that telecommunications crews are actively working on the issue. Please share this information with others to help ensure continued access to emergency services.