Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the state agency overseeing law enforcement, fire and life safety, and search and rescue in Alaska. It runs Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, and the State Crime Lab, serving communities statewide.
Photo: Guillaume Vachey via Wikimedia Commons · Photo source · CC0
dps.alaska.gov ↗Alaska
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Wasilla police shoot and wound man who pointed gun at officers, investigators say
Wasilla Police Department officers shot and wounded a man Tuesday afternoon after he ran from them and pointed a gun at officers in a parking lot at 675 Parks Highway, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation said in a Department of Public Safety daily dispatch.
The man was taken to a Mat-Su area hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening. No officers or bystanders were hurt.
Officers were talking with the man in the parking lot around 3:33 pm, according to a preliminary investigation. During that contact, he fled on foot, then pulled out a gun and pointed it at officers, the dispatch said. Multiple officers fired, striking him, around 3:38 pm. Officers secured the gun and gave the man medical aid.
The man is expected to face criminal charges once he is medically cleared, and his name will be released after he is charged, the dispatch said. Any charges are accusations, and a person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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About Alaska Department of Public Safety
Photo: Guillaume Vachey via Wikimedia Commons · Photo source · CC0
dps.alaska.gov ↗Alaska
The Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the state agency for law enforcement, fire and life safety, and search and rescue in Alaska. It runs the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Village Public Safety Officer program and the State Crime Lab.
Troopers investigate crimes and make arrests across the state, from drug and domestic violence cases to sexual abuse and burglary. Wildlife Troopers enforce hunting and fishing rules, including licensing, residency requirements and catch records. The department also issues Silver Alerts for missing people, keeps the sex offender registry and rescues injured hikers.
Rural public safety is a recurring question, and Village Public Safety Officers work through regional tribal organizations such as Tanana Chiefs Conference. Local governments such as the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have explored building facilities for troopers.
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