Animal Shelter
Dear Editor: My name is Stephen Lawrie.
I was a signatory to the letter the Sentinel published on Dec. 26 regarding the Animal Shelter. May I expand this issue with some of my own questions and observations?
My comments here are my concerns about Police Chief Robert Baty, and not the SPD rank and file. Mr. Baty is a public servant, paid with public funds. Consequently he answers to the public for his actions taken in the public’s good.
My question is how Chief Baty “euthanized” the two elderly and distressed dogs entrusted to the department’s care. If not by the humane methods vets use, how EXACTLY were the several cats in the department’s care “euthanized” ... a sack and a river? or the trusty bullet?
I believe Chief Baty shouild tell the town how it all went down.
I’ve been here in Sitka for close to 50 years. I like it here. I like the people here, the diverse mix of opinions, beliefs, points of view, and until now, our humane and caring treatment of animals in our town, animals that depend on us for fair treatment.
In my time here we have had a variety of police chiefs, but we have not had a chief of this particular variety before, evasive, non-empathetic, and frankly, cruel.
This is not the bush, this is Sitka, and it is 2025. We know better in all regards. Our officers have better training, have learned modern and better skills to deal with problems empathetically and constructively as possible.
In my opinion the Animal Shelter debacle falls squarely on Mr. Baty’s shoulders, and he is completely responsible.
We are a small and caring town, we deserve a police department that has good morale, good equipment, good training, (and a decent building to operate out of, along the lines of the fire hall) but MOST of all a department with supportive, caring, inclusive, open leadership. True leadership.
Without those, what does our future look like?
Stephen Lawrie, Sitka
Cruise Petition
Dear Editor: Well, the Decline to Sign campaign being put out on social media by Safeguard Sitka seems to have erroneously suggested that signing a petition to put an issue on the ballot means something other than allowing the democratic process to unfold.
The signatures that are currently being collected will simply allow Sitkans an opportunity to vote on an ordinance that would limit cruise visitation. Whether you believe that cruise tourism should be unlimited or whether you would like to see reasonable limits put on the industry before Sitka loses its appeal to those same visitors, there is absolutely no harm in signing the petition.
I am carrying a petition because I believe that ALL Sitkans deserve the opportunity to voice an opinion at the ballot box. Thank you.
Ann Walter, Sitka
A Petition Carrier
