Alaska Bureau of Investigation
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI) is responsible for coordinating and conducting major criminal investigations within Alaska State Troopers jurisdiction. This includes homicides, sexual assaults, sexual abuse of minors, human and sex trafficking, fraud, forgery, and computer and internet crimes. The mission of ABI focuses also on developing the investigative skills of personnel within the Department of Public Safety and building collaborative relationships with other law enforcement agencies. ABI members also receive training and serve as polygraph examiners. ABI also staffs and manages the missing persons clearinghouse responsible for tracking all reported missing persons cases within Alaska.
The mission of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation is to provide statewide investigative support for the most serious crimes committed in Alaska.
Alaska Bureau of Investigation Units
Major Crimes Unit
Regional Major Crimes Units (MCU) investigate cases of homicide, suicide, unexplained deaths, in-custody deaths, officer involved use of deadly force events, adult sexual assaults, robbery, and other serious crimes against person(s). Regional MCU personnel serve as a ready resource for patrol personnel who respond to suspicious deaths, and other serious, complex investigations. Integration of ABI personnel and patrol personnel proves to be highly effective in coordination and resolution of investigations. The MCUs are the backbone of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation as they handle calls for assistance from nearly every law enforcement entity within Alaska. These units work intricately with other ABI units because many types of crimes are often interconnected. Investigators assigned to the Major Crime Units are located in Soldotna, Fairbanks, Palmer, Bethel, and Anchorage. In addition, they remain available for deployment to any area of the state.
Technical Crimes Unit
In 2010, the Computer and Financial Crimes Unit was divided into the Technical Crimes Unit (TCU) and the Financial Crimes Unit (FCU). This was due to the need for greater specialization, resource development and resource deployment into the field of each respective area. Both are co-located in Anchorage and are supervised by the same sergeant. The TCU is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and routinely conducts joint investigations with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Anchorage Police Department against online child exploitation.
The use of computers to perpetrate, foster and conceal criminal conduct has become a reality as criminal use of computers and cell phones constantly increases each year. In addition to online activity, the TCU has a Digital Forensics Laboratory (DFL) attached to it that has the capacity to forensically analyze most digital media to document any technology-facilitated crime. The DFL recovers electronic evidence from hundreds of mobile and computer devices per year. Personnel assigned to the unit are highly trained and competent in the use and application of technology. In addition to computer forensics, TCU personnel assist the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and other state agencies in significant or high profile investigations, as well as crimes involving the abuse of state resources.
Financial Crimes Unit
In 2010, the Computer and Financial Crimes Unit was divided into the Technical Crimes Unit (TCU) and the Financial Crimes Unit (FCU). This was due to the need for greater specialization, resource development and resource deployment into the field. Both are co-located in Anchorage and are supervised by the same sergeant. The FCU routinely conducts investigations in conjunction with the Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals; district attorney’s offices throughout the state; and various federal agencies such as the IRS, FBI, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office. FCU personnel investigate significant high-value financial crimes, fraud cases and crimes involving the abuse of state resources.
Child Abuse Investigation Units
The Child Abuse Investigation Units’ (CAIU) primary focus is on cases of child sexual and serious physical abuse. These units work closely with the Office of Children’s Services, child advocacy centers, district attorney’s offices and other agencies in criminal investigations involving crimes against children. Within the parameters of Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) protocols and through the dedication of direct resources, the CAIUs are crucial to the effective investigation of these crimes. Because many cases concerning the sexual abuse of children involve child pornography, CAIUs also work closely with the Technical Crimes Unit to investigate child pornography and associated criminal acts committed against children.
Whenever possible, CAIU investigators work with AST Detachments and local police personnel with agencies in investigating crimes against children. ABI has personnel who perform these sensitive and demanding investigations in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Soldotna and in Palmer.
Cold Case Investigation Units
Within the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, there are two units focused on investigating unresolved homicides that occur within the Alaska State Troopers’ area of responsibility. ABI established a Cold Case Investigative Unit (CCIU) in 2002, which has been staffed by retired troopers or former police officers. Since its founding, the highly experienced and capable investigators who have been assigned to this unit have also acted as a resource for mentoring less experienced investigators within AST. In 2022, ABI established the state’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) unit, which is solely focused on investigating unresolved homicides and suspicious missing persons cases involving Alaska Natives or American Indians victims.
The Alaska State Troopers consider a homicide to be an unresolved homicide and eligible for investigation by either the CCIU or MMIP investigators when it remains unsolved for five years or more after being reported and has no viable unexplored investigatory leads. Additionally, cases may be designated as cold cases earlier if all leads are exhausted and approved by the ABI Commander. In addition to the unresolved homicides within AST jurisdiction, CCIU or MMIP investigators can assist and conduct investigations, upon request, from local police agencies with approval from the Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers.
If anyone has information regarding any of the unresolved homicide cases, please contact the Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI) at 907-269-5611, or you can submit an anonymous tip through the AKTips smartphone app.
Unresolved Homicides List
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation maintains a list of unresolved homicide investigations that are assigned to the Alaska State Troopers. You can view the names of homicide victims at the link below.