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Public Safety Academy Graduates 17 New Law Enforcement Officers

Nov. 14, 2025 (Sitka, Alaska) — In a graduation ceremony today in Sitka, Alaska, 17 new law enforcement officers received their badges after completing the rigorous Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy. A video recording of the graduation ceremony is available on the Alaska State Troopers Facebook page.

"Congratulations to the Alaska's newest law enforcement officers,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. "Thank you for your commitment to serving and protecting Alaskans. Law enforcement is an honorable career and please know that you have my full support as you work to protect Alaskans.”

Graduating recruits completed more than 1,000 hours of training over the course of 17 weeks of basic
Alaska Law Enforcement Training. Recruits received intensive instruction in law enforcement-related
topics, use-of-force and de-escalation, physical fitness, and many scenario-based exercises designed to prepare entry-level police officers and Troopers for successful careers in Alaska law enforcement.

“We are honored to welcome these new officers into Alaska law enforcement,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “They should be proud of all the hard work they put in during the rigorous training at the academy. I am confident they will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while they serve the people of our great state.”

Graduates include:

VPSO John Charles, Association of Village Council Presidents

Officer Tristan Enriquez, Petersburg Police Department

Officer Case Estle, Kodiak Police Department

Officer Jacob Evetts, Kotzebue Police Department

Trooper Christopher Hale, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Khaheel Kelly, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Hesekaia Mausia, Juneau Police Department

Trooper Caleb Mertens, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Ryan Morris, Anchorage Airport Police & Fire

Officer Luis Pacheco, Sitka Police Department

Trooper Matthew Quick, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Andre Renner, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

Trooper Lucas Ritter, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

Officer Nathan Ruebesam, Juneau Police Department

Officer Tanner Welch, Anchorage Airport Police & Fire

Officer Joseph Whitney, Fairbanks Police Department

Officer Edward Wilson, Anchorage Airport Police & Fire

Trooper recruits will complete one additional week of training focused on Department of Public Safety specific tasks, and other elements of law enforcement unique to the Alaska State Troopers. They will then arrive at their first duty assignments in either Fairbanks, Soldotna, or the Mat-Su Valley, and begin a Field Training and Evaluation Program. If successful, the Trooper recruits will be promoted to the rank of Trooper upon completion of their probationary period, generally 12 months from the start of the academy.

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Multi-agency task force makes 27 arrests during drug-focused operation

August 13, 2025 (Anchorage, Alaska) – Twenty-seven people were arrested in Fairbanks during a two-day operation led by the Alaska State Troopers’ Fairbanks Areawide Narcotics Team and High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) task force with assistance from dozens of law enforcement officers from local and federal agencies. The task force officers focused on crime suppression and cracking down on drug trafficking during the Aug. 7 and 8 operation.

In total, investigators seized $10,147 in suspected drug proceeds, five guns, 5.5 grams of methamphetamine, 9 grams of fentanyl powder, and 32 grams of psilocybin mushrooms. Law enforcement arrested 27 people on a variety of offenses, including outstanding warrants, probation violations and new charges ranging from misconduct involving a controlled substance to attempted murder.

“We are thankful for the hard-working troopers and law enforcement officers who were able to take drugs and dangerous individuals off our streets,” said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. “Alaska State Troopers are dedicated to holding offenders accountable and we are grateful to work with our partner agencies to accomplish that shared goal. We will have more operations like this across the state.”

The operation was led by the Fairbanks Areawide Narcotics Team and HIDTA task force with assistance from the Fairbanks Alaska State Troopers’ patrol and criminal suppression units, Fairbanks Police Department, North Pole Police Department, Kenai Police Department, North Slope Borough Police Department, Fairbanks Judicial Services, Wasilla Police Department, Department of Corrections Adult Probation, Parole and Pretrial Services, Alaska Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety maintains a statewide list of active warrants online, if you have an active warrant, you can turn yourself in at any police or state trooper office. To see the list of active warrants visit: https://dps.alaska.gov/ast/warrants

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DPS Academy Graduates 36 New Law Enforcement Officers

May 23, 2025 (Sitka, Alaska) — In a graduation ceremony today in Sitka, Alaska, 36 new law enforcement officers received their badges after completing the rigorous Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy. A video recording of the graduation ceremony is available on the Alaska State Troopers Facebook page.

"These new officers represent the future of law enforcement in Alaska," said Governor Mike Dunleavy. "I am confident that they will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and I wish them all the best as they embark on their careers."

Graduating recruits completed more than 1,000 hours of training over the course of 17 weeks of basic
Alaska Law Enforcement Training. Recruits received intensive instruction in law enforcement-related
topics, use-of-force and de-escalation, physical fitness, and many scenario-based exercises designed to prepare entry-level police officers and Troopers for successful careers in Alaska law enforcement.

“We are proud to welcome these new officers to our law enforcement family,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “This rigorous training program has prepared them to protect and serve Alaskans. We are grateful for their bravery and dedication to our communities.”

Graduates include:

Trooper Tyler Anderson, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Skyler Borane, Anchorage Airport Police & Fire

Officer Leonardus Castro, Anchorage Airport Police & Fire

Trooper Abigail Danaher, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Schuyler Deeney, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

Trooper Jess Evans, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Levi Farrelly, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Andrew Fishe, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Noah Gandy, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Nicolas Herron-Webb, Anchorage Airport Police & Fire

VPSO Alexa House-Hoffman, Kodiak Area Native Association

Trooper Elizabeth Jaeschke, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

Trooper Cody Johnson, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

Officer Steven Johnston, Juneau Police Department

VPSO Ryan Lane, Northwest Arctic Borough

Trooper Nathan Marble, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Axel McCrumb, Juneau Police Department

Officer Lucas Michael, Kenai Police Department

Trooper Wyatt Miller, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Brycen Mitten, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Christopher Morland, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Riley Moss, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Cajewl Musgrave, Soldotna Police Department

Trooper Edward Owens, Alaska State Troopers

Officer Michael Reahl, North Slope Borough Police Department

Trooper Hunter Shay, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

Officer Joshua Shrader, Juneau Police Department

Trooper Stevan Smith, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper Jonah Strauel, Alaska State Troopers

VPSO Dakota Strong, Tlingit & Haida

Officer Tristan Taber, Juneau Police Department

Trooper Colten Taratko, Alaska State Troopers

VPSO Manmeet Teja, Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association

Officer Dylan Vanstralen, Craig Police Department

Officer Justin Viehweg, Juneau Police Department

Trooper Ethan Wynecoop, Alaska State Troopers

Trooper recruits will complete one additional week of training focused on Department of Public Safety specific tasks, and other elements of law enforcement unique to the Alaska State Troopers. They will then arrive at their first duty assignments in either Fairbanks, Soldotna, or the Mat-Su Valley, and begin a Field Training and Evaluation Program. If successful, the Trooper recruits will be promoted to the rank of Trooper upon completion of their probationary period, generally 12 months from the start of the academy.

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