Public Safety
RSSPublic safety in Alaska is the network of law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services that protect the state's communities. It covers Alaska State Troopers, municipal and village police, fire departments and village public safety officers.
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Frame from "Anchorage Assembly: HHAND Commission Monthly Meeting November 2026" · Photo source
Commenter tells Anchorage homelessness commission an officer mistreats campers
A frequent public commenter named Jamie told Anchorage's Housing, Homeless and Neighborhood Development Commission on Nov. 4 that a police officer mistreats people living outside during camp clearings.
He said that during a clearing about two weeks earlier, the officer gave a man in a tent 15 minutes to grab his things and leave, and the man lost all his belongings. He said that in another encounter the officer picked out a man to be searched and grabbed him inappropriately during a pat-down. Jamie said this was the fourth or fifth such incident he had heard about or seen.
He said he told Police Chief Sean Case four to five months ago that the officer should be pulled from that duty and kept away from marginalized or vulnerable people, and that he raised it with Case again recently.
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Stories on what’s next
Anchorage Assembly 2027 Budget Final Action
Downtown business leaders ask Anchorage Assembly to make police foot patrol permanent
Downtown business groups asked the Assembly to make APD's foot patrol permanent. The bed tax money paying for it is nearly gone, and the 2027 budget has none.
Anchorage Assembly 2027 Budget Final Action
Anchorage's 2027 budget leaves out money for downtown police foot patrols
Downtown Anchorage's police foot patrols ran on hotel-tax overtime money this year. The 2027 budget leaves that money out. One option floated: a special levy.
Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting
Anchorage Assembly members propose mandatory jail for repeat public intoxication
Two Anchorage Assembly members want mandatory jail for repeat public intoxication and minimum sentences for drug possession, with a treatment off-ramp.
Petersburg Borough Assembly Meeting - Fire Department Training Facility Decision
Petersburg mayor asks Assembly to decide on a permanent fire training site near Station 1
Petersburg's fire training tower has to leave Scow Bay by Nov. 30 and can't come back. The mayor wants the Assembly to pick a permanent home next meeting.
Sentencing of Martin Victor IV
Anchorage jury finds man guilty but mentally ill in 2015 stabbing of his parents
A jury found Martin Victor IV guilty but mentally ill in the 2015 stabbing of both his parents. He cannot be paroled until treatment is complete.
Latest
Week of Nov 9
Kodiak father asks borough assembly to take up suicide prevention every month
A Kodiak father whose son died by suicide asked the borough assembly to take up suicide prevention every month. One member said it broke his heart.
by Walter AlaskaNews14h ago2 min read
Liquor regulators weigh restarting underage stings after Prince of Wales check
Alaska hasn't run regular underage alcohol stings in about a decade. When investigators tried one on Prince of Wales Island, 3 of 4 businesses failed.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min read
Trump exempts federal fire retardant drops from water pollution rules for a year
Trump waived water pollution rules on federal fire retardant drops for a year. A judge said they need a permit. Years later, there still isn't one.
by Maggie AlaskaNews17h ago3 min read
Screeners find suspected cocaine in a coffee container bound for Selawik, troopers say
Anchorage airport screeners opened a coffee container in a Selawik man's checked bag and found suspected cocaine, troopers say. He was arrested at the gate.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min read
Wasilla police shoot and wound man who pointed gun at officers, investigators say
Wasilla police shot and wounded a man Tuesday after he fled and pointed a gun at officers. He faces charges once cleared, and the state will review the shooting.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min read
Officers find suspected drugs on inmates at Fairbanks Correctional Center
Fairbanks jail officers found inmates with white powder, crystals, Suboxone and marijuana concentrates Tuesday, at least the fourth drug case there this year.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago1 min read
Ketchikan boy dies after collapsing Monday; state medical examiner requests autopsy
A Ketchikan boy collapsed and stopped breathing Monday morning and died at a local hospital despite CPR, troopers said. An autopsy is planned.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago1 min read
Bethel police, tribal court and clinic hosted a two-day suicide prevention training
Bethel police, ONC's tribal court and Bethel Family Clinic hosted a two-day suicide prevention training for local organizations, led by NAMI New Hampshire.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read
More from Public Safety
Coast Guard icebreaker that watched Chinese ships in the Arctic stops in Juneau
The Coast Guard's former oil-industry icebreaker stopped in Juneau near the end of a 134-day deployment, some of it spent watching Chinese research ships.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read
State seeks a shipyard to build a 96-foot wildlife trooper vessel for Southeast
The state wants a shipyard to build a 96-foot wildlife trooper vessel for Southeast. It says the last one was made with "dramatically inferior materials."
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read
Driver kills pedestrian at Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road in Anchorage, flees
A driver hit and killed a pedestrian at Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road early Monday and drove away. Police haven't described the vehicle or driver.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read
Week of Nov 2
Troopers arrest Chugiak 16-year-old after 122 mph pursuit in Wasilla
Troopers say a 16-year-old Chugiak driver raced another car on Knik Goose Bay Road, then fled at up to 122 mph before being stopped. No injuries were reported.
by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read
Anchorage police ask for help finding Kylie Johnson, 17, last seen near Woburn Circle
Anchorage police are asking for help finding Kylie Johnson, 17, last seen near Woburn Circle. Anyone with information should call APD at 311 or 907-786-8900.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read
16-year-old dies after being found unresponsive near Pillar Creek Beach in Kodiak
A 16-year-old boy was found unresponsive near Pillar Creek Beach in Kodiak on Friday and could not be revived. Troopers say they don't suspect foul play.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read
Alaska Supreme Court revives opioid lawsuit against Carrs, Safeway and Fred Meyer owners
Alaska's Supreme Court revived the state's suit claiming Carrs, Safeway and Fred Meyer pharmacies helped fuel the opioid crisis. Back to trial court it goes.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago3 min read
Egan Drive's winter 45 mph speed limit is now in effect in Juneau through Jan. 31
Egan Drive's speed limit near Fred Meyer in Juneau is 45 mph through Jan. 31, down from 55 mph. The stretch sees heavy crashes in winter, and a permanent traffic signal fix isn't expected until 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Coming up
Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Regional Emergency Services Advisory Committee
Mona Lisa Drexler Assembly Chambers, Juanita Helms Administration Center, 907 Terminal Street, Fairbanks, AK
Meeting
Public Safety Careers Event
Community event
Alaska Police Standards Council Meeting
Meeting
Basic Handgun Class
Class
Cordova City Council E911 Surcharge Implementation
Public notice
About Public Safety
Public safety in Alaska takes in the law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and rescue services that protect its communities. It includes the Alaska State Troopers, municipal police, village public safety officers, fire departments, and search and rescue by the Coast Guard and the Alaska Air National Guard.
Highway crashes and closures, searches for missing people and boaters, structure fires and rescues in remote villages recur across the state. Local governments decide on police funding, including state grants for units that target impaired driving and street racing, as well as rules for police surveillance and ambulance fees.
Public safety overlaps closely with crime, government and the courts. In rural Alaska, troopers and village public safety officers respond to emergencies in villages, while Coast Guard cutters patrol the Arctic and the Bering Sea.
More from Public Safety
Anchorage passes surveillance rules, rejects new limits on plate reader searches
The Assembly wrote police plate reader and crime center rules into code 11-1, but left the 14-day data limit in police policy and rejected new search limits.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago5 min read
North Pole raises resident ambulance discount to 25% for calls inside city limits
North Pole raised its resident ambulance discount to 25% so city residents won't feel last month's fee hike. The sponsor: Council member Santa Claus.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Tanana Chiefs' public safety manager named state VPSO coordinator of the year
Tanana Chiefs Conference's public safety manager was named the state's VPSO program coordinator of the year, and three TCC colleagues were commended.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Police find 9-year-old boy who was reported missing Monday in Eagle River
Anchorage police say Malik Muhammad, a 9-year-old boy reported missing Monday evening in Eagle River, has been found. Police had asked the public for help.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Troopers issue Silver Alert for Karen Igo, 65, missing from her Naukati Bay home
Troopers issued a Silver Alert Monday for Karen Igo, 65, a vulnerable adult reported missing from her home in Naukati Bay on Prince of Wales Island.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Week of Oct 26
Anchorage Assembly to consider $1.9 million for police unit targeting impaired drivers
Anchorage police could get about $2.6 million, mostly from the state, to go after impaired drivers, speeders, street racers and distracted drivers.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Troopers arrest man, 24, accused of attempted sexual assault, gunfire at Wasilla party
Troopers arrested a 24 year old man accused of trying to sexually assault a juvenile at a Wasilla Halloween party, then firing a gun inside the home.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Troopers list three Two Rivers children as missing runaways after they left home on foot
Troopers listed three Two Rivers children, ages 14 to 16, as missing runaways after they walked out of their home late Saturday following an argument.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Valdez declares it's 'officially snow season' and asks residents to clear snow lots
Valdez declared it "officially snow season" and wants boats, trailers and cars out of neighborhood snow lots so crews can keep up with plowing.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Troopers cite driver after red-light crash on Palmer-Wasilla Highway
Troopers cited a driver for running a red light and crashing into another vehicle at Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Equestrian Avenue Friday. No injuries were reported, but the highway briefly closed.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Fairbanks City Council accepts $728,000 federal grant for ambulance bus
Fairbanks council accepted $728,000 in federal funds for a fire department ambulance bus holding up to 22 patients. • Bus aids mass-casualty response, city must fund crewing after year one. • Council also backed statewide e-bike rules and a plan for blighted properties.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readFrom 
Fairbanks police will hand out glow sticks to trick-or-treaters Halloween night
Fairbanks and North Pole police will hand out glow sticks to trick-or-treaters Saturday night to keep kids visible to drivers. Alaska logged 15 pedestrian deaths in 2024, up from 13 the year before.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Anchorage planners seek a new look at why traffic deaths haven't dropped
Anchorage planners want a $250,000 look at why traffic deaths haven't dropped, as people walking or biking make up nearly half of those killed.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Anchorage police would get $182,425 to go after illegal street racing
Anchorage police would get $182,425, mostly state money, to target speeders and aggressive drivers at illegal street races. The Assembly votes Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Anchorage police would get $113,318 to target distracted drivers on high-crash roads
Anchorage police would get $113,318 in state money to go after distracted drivers on roads where walkers and bikers get hit. The Assembly votes Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read
State forestry division lists five wildfire hazards in Halloween post
State Forestry's Halloween post lists five ways Alaskans start fires they didn't mean to, from campfires that aren't "DEAD OUT" to sparking tow chains.Most Alaska wildfires are human-caused, 118 of the season's first 124 fires started that way.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min read
Kodiak man dies after Cessna 185 crashes and sinks in Afognak Island's Blue Fox Bay
Troopers named James Osowski, 33, of Kodiak as the man killed when a Cessna 185 crashed and sank in Blue Fox Bay on Afognak Island Oct. 20. Two others got out.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Perez-Verdia proposes a police committee he'd chair as surveillance rules return
Kameron Perez-Verdia wants a yearlong committee he'd chair to study which surveillance rules belong in code. It's up the night the Assembly takes them up.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read
Multi-vehicle crash shuts roads near West Tanana Drive before UAF police give all-clear
UAF police shut roads near West Tanana Drive Thursday night after a multi-vehicle crash, then gave the all clear. It capped a third straight day of icy-road warnings in Fairbanks.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Anchorage police kill man in Huffman area, saying he fired a gun during a struggle
An Anchorage officer killed a man in the Huffman area after police say he fired a gun while struggling with another officer. It's APD's account.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Coast Guard hires Ketchikan dive company to handle fuel on boat aground in Raymond Cove
The Coast Guard hired a Ketchikan dive company, without taking bids, to deal with fuel and oil aboard the Sultan, a boat aground in Raymond Cove.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Kodiak bear safety group tells trick-or-treaters to finish by 8 pm and carry air horns
Kodiak's bear safety group says finish by 8 pm, bring a flashlight and an air horn, and skip the brush. Some town bears are already out looking for treats.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Coast Guard rescues five after fishing boat runs aground in False Pass
Five people aboard the 58-foot fishing boat Oracle were rescued Thursday after it ran aground in False Pass. The Coast Guard hasn't said what caused it.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Nome police send callers to a backup number for the second time in a week
Nome's 911 line and police phone had trouble early Thursday, the second time in a week police sent callers to a backup number. The lines are back up.
by Alaska News2w ago1 min read
