Today, May 15, is National Police Memorial Day. Today, we honor and pay respect to those in law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community. Since 1974, 19 Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement personnel have given the ultimate sacrifice to our state.
Alaska State Troopers in Delta recently helped rescue a man who was floating on a deteriorating piece of ice in the Delta River. Troopers requested assistance from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources helicopter based in Delta. The DNR helicopter crew located the man and rescued him from the river. They then flew him to the highway were he was transferred to awaiting EMS for evaluation.
This week is recognized in Alaska and across the country as Police Memorial Week. Events to honor and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in law enforcement are being held in communities around the state. You can attend Police Memorial Day events in:
Fairbanks: Thursday, May 14, at 11:00 am at the Trooper Gabe Rich and Trooper Scott Johnson Memorial Park, 2874 Doughchee Ave. North Pole
Juneau: Friday, May 15, at 12:00 pm at the Evergreen Cemetery, 601 Seater Street.
Anchorage: Wednesday, May 20, at 3:00 pm at the Alaska State Crime Detection Laboratory, 4805 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.
Across the country, May 15th is recognized as National Police Memorial Day and the week in which it falls is recognized as National Police Week. Alaska Governor Dunleavy has proclaimed the week of May 10 - 16, 2026 as Alaska Law Enforcement Week and encourages all Alaskans to honor and pay respect to those in law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community and recognize those who continue to defend the rights and freedoms we hold dear.
We love watching the snow retreat back into the mountains! However, warmer temperatures means wildlife is more active along our roadways. Make sure you are watching for wildlife while out and about enjoying the warmer weather. Stay safe and enjoy spring!
Yesterday, May 5, was Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Day in Alaska and troopers across the state attended MMIP events to show their support for this important issue. Your Alaska State Troopers are committed to relentlessly pursuing justice murdered and missing Alaska Natives across the state. We have four dedicated MMIP investigators within the Alaska Bureau of Investigation dedicated to reviewing and investigating unresolved MMIP cases.
In memoriam: On this day in 2014, Sergeant Patrick “Scott” Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich were shot and killed while attempting to take a suspect into custody in Tanana, Alaska. Sergeant Johnson had served with the Alaska State Troopers for 20 years and Trooper Rich had served with the Alaska State Troopers for 3-1/2 years.
Winter has finally released its grip on our state. The snow is melting, the geese are back and the sun is shining. Don't forget to add getting your tires changed to your spring to-do list. Today is the last day you can have your studded tires on if you are above the 60° north latitude.
Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Your Alaska State Troopers and our Alaska HIDTA partners are working across the state to ensure that this deadly drug stays out of our communities. You can help keep Alaskans safe by reporting suspicious drug trafficking activities to your local law enforcement agency, by using the AKTips smartphone app or online at: https://dps.alaska.gov/tips/.
Alaska State Trooper Anthony Will rescued a Kodiak teenager who fell through the ice on Island Lake. Using a surfboard from a local resident, Trooper Will crossed the unstable ice and pulled the hypothermic teen onto the board, lifting him out again when he slipped back into the water. Sergeant Nathan Walsh advanced with a tow strap, threw it to Will, and Will secured it to the board. Sergeant Walsh then pulled the teen to shore, where other troopers and Bayside Fire personnel helped bring him safely to waiting medical care.
The pavement may end, but the work keeps going. Your Alaska State Troopers are dedicated to serving Alaskans no matter where they are located, on or off-road.
If you want to help serve Alaska, apply today at: AlaskaStateTrooper.com
Today is National Administrative Professionals Day. Our uniformed and commissioned employees are the most visible to the public, but much of the complex and tedious tasks that contribute to our successful outcomes come from our dedicated civilian staff members working diligently behind the scenes. Without our office assistants, administrative assistants, criminal justice technicians, secretaries, and more, our core mission of ensuring public safety would be impossible.
