Three New Regional Public Safety Officers Begin Working in Rural Alaska
June 28, 2024 (Anchorage, AK)— This week three new Regional Public Safety Officers have begun work in Northwest Alaska and Southeast Alaska through the DPS Village Public Safety Officer Division. Regional Public Safety Officers (RPSO) have similar authority to Village Public Safety Officers; however, their authority and jurisdiction extends to an entire region instead of […]
Public Safety Academy Graduates 26 New Law Enforcement Officers
ALET Session 24-01 includes 14 Alaska State and Alaska Wildlife Troopers, as well as 12 recruits from nine city and state agencies May 24, 2024 (Sitka, AK)— In a graduation ceremony today in Sitka, Alaska 26 new law enforcement officers received their badges after completing the rigorous Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy. A video recording […]
James Hoelscher & Lisa Purinton Appointed to DPS Leadership Posts
January 9, 2024 (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 […]
Public Safety Academy Graduates 19 New Law Enforcement Officers
ALET Session 23-02 includes nine Alaska State and Alaska Wildlife Troopers, as well as 10 recruits from nine city and state agencies November 17, 2023 (Sitka, AK)— In a graduation ceremony in Sitka, 19 new law enforcement officers received their badges. The ceremony was closed to the public, but anyone who is interested can watch […]
Alaska Department of Public Safety and Anchorage Police Department Release Missing Indigenous Persons Report
August 22, 2023 (ANCHORAGE, AK) – The Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Anchorage Police Department (APD) have released a first-of-its-kind Missing Indigenous Persons Report. The report provides reliable data and case transparency related to all missing persons in Alaska that are Alaska Native, American Indian, or their race is unknown within the Alaska […]
Public Safety Academy Graduates 17 New Law Enforcement Officers
ALET Session 23-01 includes 11 Alaska State and Alaska Wildlife Troopers, as well as 6 recruits from five city and state agencies June 23, 2023 (Sitka, AK)— In a graduation ceremony in Sitka, 17 new law enforcement officers received their badges. The ceremony was closed to the public, but anyone who is interested can watch a video […]
Department of Public Safety Begins Limited Deployment of Body-Worn Cameras
May 1, 2023 (Anchorage, AK) – The Alaska Department of Public Safety has started a limited deployment of body-worn cameras across Alaska to lay the groundwork for a full deployment later this year. Thirty Alaska State Troopers, Wildlife Troopers, and Court Services Officers are now using the new technology as part of their normal duties […]
DPS Welcomes Back Joel Hard
Retired Colonel Joel Hard to lead VPSO Operations January 12, 2022 (Anchorage, AK)— The Alaska Department of Public Safety has hired former Alaska Wildlife Trooper Colonel Joel Hard as the new Director of Village Public Safety Officer Operations for the Alaska Department of Public Safety. The newly created Director of Village Public Safety Officer Operations […]