The Alaska Department of Public Safety is beginning the process of training 33 new law enforcement officers destined for locations across the state. The new officers began the 16-week Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka on July 25th.
Lieutenant Grant Miller, Academy Commander for the Alaska Public Safety Training Academy told KSRM:
“Recruits from all over the state arrived here on this past Sunday, which was July 25th. We welcomed 36 on that day and we currently 33 of the 36 still enrolled in our program. The others left for a variety of reasons. During this 16-week program, the recruits can expect instruction in our criminal investigation, police procedures, search and rescue operations, obviously state and federal law, use of force and de-escalation, firearms and self-defense training and control tactics, which includes handcuffing, pepper spray, use of the taser. Everything here has a nexus on making sound decisions for our future officers considering the options that they have that are available to them based on their training and experience that we give them.”
The Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy class 21-02 also includes 3 Village Public Safety Officers, 4 Court Service Officers, 15 local police officers from across the state, and one Alaska Parks Ranger. The academy runs through November 12.
Miller said:
“They get training on cultural diversity because Alaska is a culturally diverse state. We want to make sure that folks that sometimes join our agency coming from other states that didn’t grow up Alaskan is familiar with the cultures that we have here. They go through scenario based training, trying to prepare them for what this job has in store for them, whether it be urban or rural. As they go through their careers and progress with our agency whether it be Alaska State Troopers or the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, these positions become available to them to go out and experience and do great work out there in those communities. When a student graduates from our program, they will typically go to one of three training posts whether it be Palmer, Soldotna or Fairbanks. They are going to do their field training in one of those posts with field training officers.”
The Department of Public Safety is currently hiring for the spring 2022 Alaska Law Enforcement Training academy, those interested in becoming an Alaska State Trooper can learn more at www.AlaskaStateTrooper.com.
