Retired Trooper Lieutenant Lonny Piscoya to Lead MMIP Efforts
September 27, 2022 (Anchorage, AK)— Retired Alaska State Trooper Lieutenant Lonny Piscoya has returned to the Alaska Department of Public Safety to lead the department's Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative. Investigator Piscoya will lead the department's outreach efforts for the MMIP initiative and will assist the Alaska Bureau of Investigation with both active and cold case murder and missing person cases involving Alaska Natives. Investigator Piscoya will take over the role of MMIP Investigator from retired Alaska State Trooper Anne Sears who decided to return to retirement.
"I am happy to see that Investigator Piscoya has returned to state service to lead the State of Alaska's efforts on outreach and investigations surrounding Alaska's Indigenous persons," said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. "Public safety is my administration's number one priority, and I know that Investigator Piscoya will continue to lead our MMIP initiative in a positive direction."
Investigator Lonny Piscoya is a lifelong Alaskan who was born in Nome, where he grew up. He joined the ranks of the Alaska State Troopers in 1993; during his storied career, he patrolled in Fairbanks, Galena, Interior Alaska, Southeast Alaska, and Ketchikan. He worked as a post supervisor, AST Tactical Dive Team member, and detachment deputy commander over his 25-year law enforcement career. Piscoya retired from state service in 2018.
"I personally worked with Lonny over his career with the department and know from first-hand experience that he will bring the same tenacity and persistence that he was known for as a Trooper to this critical role," said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. "With the framework that retired MMIP Investigator Anne Sears helped put in place, I know we will continue to make meaningful progress on this critical responsibility."
Improving MMIP investigations is one of the key branches of Governor Dunleavy's People First initiative. Investigator Piscoya will also serve as the Commissioner of Public Safety's designee on the Governor's Council on Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons.
"I am excited to return to the department to lead this worthy initiative for DPS," said MMIP Investigator Lonny Piscoya. "I have seen the devastation that high rates of violent crimes have on Alaska's villages and small communities. I am committed to doing my part to help reverse those trends with my fellow Alaska State Troopers."
Investigator Piscoya's first day was September 19, 2022. This position was funded through the US Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods.