Soldotna Police Lieutenant and interim police chief Stace Escott has been announced by the City of Soldotna as the new permanent department chief. The announcement was made officially on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
“Lieutenant Escott, who has served with the Soldotna Police Department (SPD) for 19 years, has demonstrated unwavering dedication, professionalism, and leadership throughout his career,” the City said in a press release. “His promotion to Chief of Police reflects the City’s commitment to ensuring the highest standards in public safety and community engagement.”
Chief Escott, who served as a sergeant with the department for 14 years before he was promoted to Lieutenant, says he understands the challenge brought by regular shift work and believes that has, in part, helped prepare him to lead the department. “Shift work’s hard,” Escott said. “A lot of people in our community share that burden with us. [From] doctors and our nursing staff and all the [staff] at the hospital, and to the guy at Safeway and Fred Meyer stocking shelves.”
In his new role, Chief Escott will work closely with the City Manager and City Council to address the evolving needs of the Soldotna community. As a key member of Soldotna’s executive leadership team, he will play a vital role in balancing the needs of the SPD, the City, and its residents to create a safe, harmonious, and effective public safety environment.
The City said Escott was chosen to take over the role as Chief for his “outstanding ability to lead, communicate, and solve problems with clarity and purpose,” and added that he is “known for his passion for law enforcement and his dedication to both the community and the SPD, he is widely respected by residents, colleagues, and city leaders alike. His straightforward approach to tackling tough issues, coupled with his methodical and thoughtful problem-solving skills, have earned him the support and respect of the community and the police department.”
Escott said he has learned a lot serving under four previous SPD Chiefs and hopes to maintain what has worked well within the department while helping it progress as new needs arise. “[Right now] we’re moving forward with some body camera and car camera changes, and that will be nice.”
The new chief said one of his biggest priorities is getting the department back to full staff. “A vision for me for the department is just getting us back to full strength, getting us back to where we’re active in our drug unit, “Escott said. “Getting us where we’re active in our schools more. You know, we’ve been so short-staffed that we’ve had to pull back.”
The position of Chief of Police is pivotal in Soldotna, requiring an effective communicator who can navigate internal and external demands while respecting standard operating procedures, union agreements, and City policies. Chief Escott’s adherence to these standards, along with his commitment to his family, exemplifies his personal and professional dedication to service.
The City of Soldotna looks forward to seeing Chief Escott bring his experience and vision to this role and is confident that under his leadership, the Soldotna Police Department will continue to provide outstanding public safety services to our community.
Escott takes over as Chief after his predecessor, Gene Meek, resigned from the position suddenly in May 2024.
Meek was hired to be the Wrangell police chief in June.
