Northern Detachment

The Northern (N) Detachment covers most of Western Alaska, North of the Alaska Range, West of the Canadian border to the Arctic Ocean, as well as the Kenai Prince William Sound Region to include the Chugach forest and the Talkeetna and Wrangell Mountains area of Alaska, following the eastern border up to the north slope. Additionally, N detachment also encompasses the Municipality of Anchorage, the Mastu Valley and Glennallen.

This region has the largest landmass within the Division. The Detachment headquarters is located in Anchorage and under the command of a Captain, with Lieutenants in Fairbanks, Wasilla, and Soldotna. Additionally there are Sergeants in Soldotna, Palmer, Wasilla, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Bethel to assist with the overall supervision of this detachment.

Posts within the detachment are located in Anchor Point, Soldotna, Seward, Cordova, Valdez, Anchorage, Glennallen, Palmer, Mat-Su West (Wasilla), Fairbanks, Coldfoot, Cantwell, Bethel, Aniak, McGrath, Nome, Delta, Tok, and Kotzebue Post.

Currently the detachment has 45 commissioned Wildlife Troopers, 3 Administrative Assistant positions, and three Public Safety Technician II’s. There are also nine seasonal Public Safety Technician I’s, and one Journeyman Mechanic.

Big game hunting, guiding, sport and subsistence hunting and fishing are the main resource uses in this interior region. Commercial and subsistence fishing for salmon occurs from the mouths of the Yukon and Kuskokwim upriver into the interior. These fisheries are a significant source of food and income to the rural residents within the region.

This region boasts of having the first commercial salmon fishery of the season on the Copper River Flats near Cordova. Also having one of the most popular sport fish rivers in the nation, the Kenai River, offers world class King Salmon fishing attracting anglers from around the globe. During the spring low tides of Cook Inlet thousands of resource users flock to the mud flats to harvest Razor Clams.

Due to its remoteness the majority of this region is patrolled with aircraft. The detachment also has a compliment of riverboats, ATV’s and patrol vehicles. Almost all the posts in this region are filled with department pilots assigned to a PA-18 Super Cub or other aircraft, with the addition of R-44 rotorcraft also being assigned to Fairbanks and Mat-Su areas. Numerous remote cabins are also maintained by N detachment for off highway patrol functions that require fixed shelter options when necessary. The coastal posts have medium class patrol vessels assigned to patrol the commercial and sport fisheries and hunting activities.

  • P/V Arluq 36 foot - Whittier
  • P/V Augustine 34 foot - Homer
  • P/V Sea Warden 29 foot - Seward
  • P/V Bering 29 foot – Valdez
  • P/V Sound Justice 29 foot – Whittier
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