.<\/p>\n
FAIRBANKS \u2014<\/strong> Fairbanks\u2019 former police chief, who resigned in October amid conflict of interest allegations, has denied any wrongdoing in operating his secondary security business.<\/p>\n Mayor Jim Matherly\u2019s office announced last month that an investigation into Randall Aragon found he had engaged in work for his business while on-duty as police chief.<\/p>\n Aragon told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner last month that he didn\u2019t violate any rules and received permission to run Certified Security Surveys. He previously was advised by city officials not to talk about the case while it was under investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cI got permission. I had a business license. There was no rules against working outside (my duties as police chief),\u201d Aragon said. \u201cIn my heart of hearts, I know I didn\u2019t do anything inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n The investigation into Aragon was prompted by former police Chief Dan Hoffman, who called for the probe in a September letter that was sent to the City Council and various media outlets throughout Alaska.<\/p>\n Hoffman alleged he received a report from a business owner of unethical activity by Aragon. He accused Aragon of using his position as police chief to promote his security business over a service the Fairbanks Police Department offers at no cost.<\/p>\n The letter was read by former Councilwoman Vivian Stiver during a City Council meeting on Sept. 19.<\/p>\n \u201cHoffman didn\u2019t even attend City Council. (Then-Councilman Jim) Matherly goes off on me, and I\u2019m in Virginia, and I can\u2019t even defend myself,\u201d Aragon said about the meeting. \u201cI wanted to tell you this is a set-up. Why would (Hoffman) send a copy to every media outlet in Alaska?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was tried, sentenced and convicted in that meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n Aragon said he had received a direct call from the business owner, who was referenced in Hoffman\u2019s letter, in June requesting a security survey. Aragon said by then he had performed a handful of surveys as a Certified Protection Professional for $600 each and that he advertised by word of mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought she was calling me, for me to do the survey,\u201d Aragon said. \u201cI was on my cellphone and we talked and she\u2019s asking me to come out and do a survey. Unquestionably, I wouldn\u2019t have asked to do something that we were already offering.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he explained to the woman the police department was short \u201csix or seven\u201d officers and that he had a Certified Protection Professional certification, which he said distinguishes his business work from what the department offers.<\/p>\n The investigation by Russell Consulting shows Aragon conducted five surveys for a fee of $600 each, all while he was off-duty and working for his Certified Security Surveys. Aragon also conducted four surveys for no fee while on-duty as police chief.<\/p>\n Aragon said he was disappointed the investigation did not point to any specific policy he violated.<\/p>\n \u201cThe investigator said it \u2018presented potential conflict of interest.\u2019 My attorney said that is pretty clear. There\u2019s a difference between a potential conflict of interest and a conflict of interest,\u201d Aragon said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"