Huslia Community Public Safety Program

Huslia Village identifies the complete lack of public safety as the most significant problem facing our community and the complexities of developing a public safety program in Alaska has been a barrier. Huslia Village has a strong and involved tribal government. Huslia is remote, isolated and has an off the road system, accessible only by small plane. We have issues with drugs and alcohol and the related crimes associated with substance and alcohol misuse including domestic violence, child abuse and neglect and trauma associated with growing up in alcoholic homes. We have no public safety of any kind. Without any officers, there is little to discourage crime and community members are exposed to danger both from the perpetrators of crime and when attempting to mitigate a crime as an untrained and unequipped individual. We have a tribal committee that works to regulate the flow of alcohol and drugs into the community meeting planes. The job is dangerous for untrained people and all of us are untrained, walking into situations that are volatile.We need to develop a public safety program that meets the needs of our community. We are requesting funds for a planning grant to explore options, talk to legal counsel, and create a program.