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Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out by Driving Impaired

March 15, 2024 (Anchorage, AK) —If you are wearing green and celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day, make sure you and your friends get home safely by designating a sober driver, calling a cab, or spending the night. On St. Patrick’s Day there will be additional Alaska State Troopers on patrol looking for intoxicated and dangerous drivers across Alaska’s roadways.
“We understand people are looking for a reason to celebrate, and we want Alaskans to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, but we also want to impress upon everyone the importance of safe and sober driving,” stated Colonel Mo Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Your luck will run out if you choose to get behind the wheel while buzzed, drunk, or high.”
This special enforcement period will run March 17 and 18, 2024. Funding for increased patrol efforts comes from grants distributed by the Alaska Highway Safety Office.
Motorists who see someone driving dangerously are encouraged to call in a REDDI – Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately – by calling 911. To learn more about REDDI, visit http://www.dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/hwysafety/REDDI.shtml 

PDF Version of Release: 24-003-St-Patricks-Day-HVE
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Special Holiday Traffic Enforcement Results

January 30, 2024 (Anchorage, Alaska) – Over the Special Holiday traffic enforcement effort, Alaska State Troopers and Wildlife Troopers issued 237 citations, made two felony DUI arrests, and investigated two fatal collisions across Alaska’s roadways.
 
The focused traffic enforcement patrols ran from December 18, 2023 to January 1, 2024.
 
Alaska State Trooper and Wildlife Trooper contacts during the enforcement period include the following:
• 20 misdemeanor DUI arrests
• 2 felony DUI arrests
• 15 drivers charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license
• 151 damage only collisions, 11 injury collisions, and 2 fatal collisions were investigated by troopers
• Of the 237 citations issued, 58 were issued for speeding and 12 issued for seatbelt or other
occupant restraint violations
 
Funding for increased patrol efforts comes from grants distributed by the Alaska Highway Safety Office.
 
Motorists who see someone driving dangerously are encouraged to call in a REDDI – Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately – by calling 911. To learn more about REDDI, visit http://www.dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/hwysafety/REDDI.shtml

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James Hoelscher & Lisa Purinton Appointed to DPS Leadership Posts

January 9, 2023 (ANCHORAGE, AK) – Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell has appointed James Hoelscher as the new Director of the Village Public Safety Officer Division, and Lisa Purinton as the new Director of the Statewide Services Division.
 
“I have worked with James and Lisa throughout my career at DPS and know that they embody the loyalty, integrity, courage, and compassion that drives our department every day,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “I know James and Lisa will continue to drive the positive momentum at DPS through these critical leadership appointments and serve our department and State well.”  
 
James Hoelscher is a former Village Public Safety Officer and Police Chief, where he served his home village of Hooper Bay for 20 years. Hoelscher worked as a VPSO from 2009- 2015 until he joined the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) as an Investigator. Immediately prior to joining DPS he was the enforcement chief for AMCO and worked closely with the Alcohol Beverage Commission (ABC) and Marijuana Control Board in developing regulations.
 
Lisa Purinton started her career with DPS in 2006 as an auditor and trainer for the department’s criminal justice information systems program. She was promoted several times within the Statewide Services Division including to the Criminal Justice Information Systems Bureau Chief position. Most recently she served as the department’s legislative liaison where she advocated for DPS priority legislation and managed relationships with Alaska’s Legislative Branch.
 
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