Public Safety Academy Graduates 25 New Law Enforcement Officers
ALET Session #21-02 includes eleven Alaska State Troopers, as well as recruits from several city, state, and borough police agencies
November 20, 2021 (Sitka, AK)— In a graduation ceremony in Sitka 25 new law enforcement officers received their badges today. The ceremony was closed to the public, but those that are interested can watch a video recording on the
Alaska State Troopers Facebook page.
“Public safety has been job number one for my administration since I took office, and these new Alaska State Troopers, Park Rangers, Police Officers, and Village Public Safety Officers will undoubtedly make our state a safer place to live, work, and raise a family,”
said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Thank you for stepping up to serve your community and state in law enforcement. You will soon see that Alaskans overwhelmingly support the great work that law enforcement does each and every day.”
Graduating recruits completed more than 1,000 hours of training over the course of 16 weeks of basic Alaska Law Enforcement Training. Schooling included intensive instruction in law enforcement-related topics, physical fitness, and many scenario-based exercises designed to prepare entry-level police officers and Troopers for successful careers in Alaska law enforcement.
“As a graduate from this very academy 38 years ago I know that the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy and its top-notch instructors produce the finest law enforcement officers in the nation,” said
Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “Providing quality public safety in a state like Alaska is no easy task, but I know that these graduates have the heart and tenacity to accomplish this critical mission.”
Graduates include:
- Curran Chapman - Unalaska Police
- Taylor Davis - Juneau Police
- Luke Freyder - Ketchikan Police
- Martin Gardiner - Dillingham Police
- Jason Gillioun - Alaska State Troopers
- Annalise Grossmann - Alaska State Parks
- Ronald Henry - Anchorage Airport Police & Fire
- Taumaoe Malaki - Unalaska Police
- David McElwain - VPSO - Kodiak Area Native Association
- Gennifer Newman - Fairbanks Airport Pole & Fire
- Sawyer Philbrick - Alaska State Troopers
- Ryan Pickett - Anchorage Airport Police & Fire
- Daniel Pluth - Anchorage Airport Police & Fire
- James Postma - Alaska State Troopers
- Christopher Seminario - Alaska State Troopers
- William Sessamen - Alaska State Troopers
- Shawn Shannon - Alaska State Troopers
- Jacob Smith - Ketchikan Police
- Seth Spence - Alaska State Troopers
- William Stamey - Anchorage Airport Police & Fire
- Jacob Stoller - Alaska State Troopers
- Evan Wojtanek - Fairbanks Airport Police & Fire
- Jordan Couturier - Alaska State Troopers**
- Trevor Norris - Alaska State Troopers**
- Joshua Yavorsky - Alaska State Troopers**
Following graduation, the eleven Trooper recruits will continue their training at the academy for an additional two weeks. The “Trooper Basic” training includes tailored and advanced training in fish and wildlife investigations, boating safety, survival, commercial fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, and critical stress management. Recruits also participate in additional scenario-based trainings.
Upon completion of Trooper Basic, recruits will move toward their first duty assignments in either Fairbanks, Soldotna, or the Mat-Su Valley, and begin a 12-week Field Training and Evaluation Program. All Trooper recruits are expected to develop to the point of being able to perform all law enforcement functions independently. 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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**Lateral recruits attended an abbreviated six-week academy.
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