Tanana Chiefs' public safety manager named state VPSO coordinator of the year

First Sgt. David Atteberry, the Tanana Chiefs Conference's public safety manager, was named the state's 2026 Village Public Safety Officer Program Coordinator of the Year, and three TCC officers received commendations, TCC said Monday. The awards were handed out Oct. 14 at the statewide VPSO awards luncheon in Anchorage.

VPSOs "provide law enforcement, fire response, search and rescue, and emergency medical services where no other help exists," according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety. The program runs through 10 regional organizations, including TCC, whose region covers 235,000 square miles and 39 villages in Interior Alaska.

"Managing the largest VPSO program in the state requires sound judgment, persistence, and the ability to bring people together around a shared purpose," said James Hoelscher, who directs the department's VPSO division.

Statewide, the program had 80 VPSOs as of March, according to the division's annual report. At a TCC forum for state candidates Oct. 8, Joy Huntington, TCC's government affairs director, said, "we only have, I believe, 16 VPSOs in 40 villages."

The three officers each received a Director's Commendation for Honorable Service:

Nathan Becker, a regional public safety officer and TCC's training officer, was recognized for mentoring officers and expanding training across the region.

First Sgt. Mark Haglin was recognized for his work on missing person investigations, which TCC said has helped reunite families.

VPSO Emir De Bose was recognized for officer training, emergency response and K-9 work. He handles K-9 Nipsey, who replaced the retired K-9 Jack on TCC's village patrols this summer.