Anchorage police academy graduates 22 recruits, who now begin field training

Twenty-two recruits graduated Tuesday from Anchorage Police Department Academy Class 26-1, the department said. They now begin field training, which they must complete before they serve as solo officers.

The graduates are Dale Barnard, Marc Bethke, Jace Coburn, Bekime Deari-Alimi, Ian Duffy, Jonathan Evans, Caleb Freeman, Michael Freeman, Patrick Guinasso, Jacob Hill, Izon Hogan, Abigail Jendrusina, Derek King, Johann Lademann, Emmanuel Martinez, Grant Masten, OJ Mau, Samuel Neff, Ramzes Penitani, Jamie Paul Walker, Jacob Whetsell and Andrew Young.

The class graduated as the department works to fill open positions. At an Oct. 23 Anchorage Assembly budget worksession, while this class was still in the academy, the department reported 416 authorized sworn positions and about 42 vacancies. It said some recruits from earlier classes were also still in field training and working toward release, and that the department's overall staff, including support positions, was just over 600. Dispatch was eight people short of its 63 positions as of a couple of weeks before that meeting, the department said.

The previous class, Academy Class 25-2, began with 26 recruits on Dec. 9, 2025. Twenty of them graduated in May and then entered field training, according to department releases.

Department recruiters and the Alaska Department of Corrections will hold a free public safety careers event Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Jewel Lake Training Center, 3760 W. Dimond Blvd. Recruiters plan to cover hiring requirements, academy training, pay and benefits and career advancement, and to answer questions. No registration is required.