Alaska Department of Public Safety Public Information Office

Trooper 75th Anniversary
AST > PIO > Press Releases > Home

Press Releases

Two Alaska State Troopers awarded for bravery and lifesaving

Dec. 2, 2025 (Anchorage, Alaska) -- The Alaska Department of Public Safety and Gov. Mike Dunleavy are proud to present Trp. Garrett Stephens and Trp. Nathan Hollenbeck with an award for lifesaving and bravery today in a ceremony in Anchorage. In separate incidents, both troopers risked their own lives by entering frigid waters to save Alaskans from drowning.

“Alaskans rely on our troopers to protect them and save them. The actions Trp. Hollenbeck and Trp. Stephens took showcase their dedication and commitment to our great state,” Gov. Dunleavy said. “Thank you to Trp. Hollenbeck and Trp. Stephens for their brave actions and thank you to all of the troopers who put their own lives on the line to make our state safer.”

Trp. Hollenbeck rescues man from Tanana River

Around 2:30 a.m. on May 29, Trooper Hollenbeck was called from sleep while on standby to respond to a report of a man struggling in the Tanana River. He arrived at the scene within minutes of the 911 call and found the victim approximately 15 feet below a steel dock.

After securing a tow strap to his patrol vehicle and attempting to lower it to the man—who was too hypothermic to grasp it—Trooper Hollenbeck fashioned a makeshift rescue harness around himself. He called for medics with a boat or hoist and then descended toward the victim, entering the icy water.

For roughly 30 minutes, Trooper Hollenbeck kept the man’s head above water until a rescue boat arrived. Both were severely hypothermic and transported to a local hospital.

Because of Trp. Hollenbeck’s selfless and swift actions, the man survived and was released from the ICU several days later.

Trp. Stephens rescues teenage boy from Mat-Su lake

On the afternoon of June 10, Trp. Stephens responded to an urgent report of a 17-year-old boy drowning roughly 75 feet from the shore of a Mat-Su lake. He was the first to reach the scene and without hesitation sprinted toward the shore and dove into the 42-degree water.

As he swam, Trp. Stephens continuously encouraged the victim to fight for survival. Arriving medics threw Trp. Stephens two life vests. He donned one and swam the second to the victim, who was drifting in and out of consciousness and vomiting water. Trooper Stephens secured the life vest onto the teen and then swam both of them back to shore—using one arm to swim while supporting the boy with the other.

The teen was treated for water inhalation and severe hypothermia. Doctors later confirmed that without Trp. Stephens’ fast response, the boy would likely have died.

“The heroic actions of Trooper Hollenbeck and Trooper Stephens represent the very best of the Alaska State Troopers,” Commissioner Cockrell said. “I am so proud to have such brave and dedicated troopers serving our state.”

Alaska State Troopers put their lives on the line every single day, but the actions of these two troopers exemplify the department’s deep commitment to protecting and serving Alaskans. Trooper Hollenbeck and Trooper Stephens demonstrated extraordinary bravery, selflessness, and decisiveness during moments when seconds truly mattered.
Both Trp. Stephens and Trp. Hollenbeck were presented with a Commissioner’s Commendation during a ceremony at the governor’s office on Dec. 2.
###
Read More

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.

PDF Version of Release Read More

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  

PDF version of release

### 

Read More
State of Alaska Department of Public Safety

5700 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone: (907) 269-5511

=