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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Week of May 25
Troopers investigate domestic assault in Napakiak under attempted murder classification
Alaska State Troopers are investigating a domestic assault in Napakiak as attempted murder after a woman reported being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Saturday evening.
by Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Canoe capsizes on Tolsona Lake; rescue raft overturns; all reach island safely
A canoe capsized on Tolsona Lake near Glennallen on May 29, a rescue raft overturned, but all occupants wearing life jackets reached an island safely and were picked up by troopers and fire crews with no injuries reported.
by Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
DOT&PF cuts Chiniak Highway to 50 percent axle load during fishing season
Alaska DOT&PF cut Chiniak Highway to 50 percent axle load from milepost 20.1 to 33.39 effective May 27 to protect pavement during spring thaw and fishing season truck traffic on Kodiak Island.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min readTeen dies after vehicle goes into lake near Pasagshak
A 17-year-old boy died Monday after his vehicle went into Lake Rose Tead near Pasagshak on Kodiak Island. He was trapped under the vehicle in water and mud when troopers arrived.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
State identifies man, officers in fatal Utqiagvik police shooting
Police in Utqiaġvik shot and killed 46-year-old Gordon Killbear Jr. on May 23 after he emerged from a barricaded room with a knife during a domestic violence call.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Week of May 18
Chiniak Highway hit with 50% weight limit, toughest in Kodiak area
Chiniak Highway gets Kodiak's toughest seasonal weight limit starting Monday, cutting trucks to half their legal load on a six-mile stretch.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readWeek of May 11
Senate Finance hears omnibus crime bill targeting AI child porn, raising age of consent
Alaska Senate Finance heard an omnibus crime bill that would criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material and raise the age of consent for sex crimes to 18.
by Alaska News6mo ago6 min read
Week of Apr 27
Anchor Point Man Arrested After Assault, Vehicle Theft
Alaska State Troopers arrested a 45-year-old Anchor Point man April 28 after he allegedly assaulted someone and stole their vehicle on the Kenai Peninsula.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min readWasilla Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Assault Charge
Alaska State Troopers arrested a 33-year-old Wasilla man on domestic violence assault charges after a disturbance on April 28, with a child under 16 present in the home.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readHouse panel hears bill to extend confidentiality to tribal victim advocates
House Bill 384 would grant tribal victim advocates the same legal confidentiality protections currently held by nonprofit and military counselors.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances two nominees to Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board
Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee advanced two nominees to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board, which processes about 1,000 payment requests yearly for crime victims' funerals and medical care.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Week of Apr 20
Alaska expands background checks to all medical professionals
Alaska Senate Health Committee voted to require criminal background checks for all medical professionals licensed by the state, expanding a requirement that previously applied only to doctors.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readFrom 
Senate panel adopts changes to health care compact bill
Alaska Senate panel approved changes to join four interstate medical licensing compacts aimed at recruiting rural health providers, adding background check requirements for medical professionals.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readFrom 
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
A House committee heard testimony on a bill to let emergency dispatchers retire after 20 years instead of 30 and classify them as first responders.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Senate cuts House domestic violence funding additions in half
Alaska Senate cut domestic violence funding additions in half Tuesday, reducing House support for survivors by $1.45 million total and setting up a budget fight before final passage.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Week of Apr 13
Alaska House Approves $2M for Talkeetna Trooper Post Using ANWR Funds
Alaska House approved $2 million from Arctic refuge revenues to restore a trooper post in Talkeetna, citing a 113-mile law enforcement gap and fentanyl trafficking on the Parks Highway.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAbout 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.