12 graduates from Department of Public Safety Training Academy to serve the Mat-Su Valley

WASILLA — Forty-five Alaskan law enforcement officers recently graduated from the Department of Public Safety Training Academy in Sitka.

A dozen graduates will serve in the Mat-Su Valley as Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers, according to B Detachment Deputy Commander Ron Hayes. He said they will have 10 new AST officers and two new AWT officers serving in the Valley- which is roughly the same size as West Virginia- so all the help they can get is greatly appreciated.

“It’s a big shot in the arm,” Hayes said.

Hayes said the total number of AST officers in the Valley is always in flux, but they currently have 25 on patrol. He said the Valley patrol has been understaffed for a long time, but this recent graduating class is highly encouraging because it’s sending the highest amount of graduates that will serve in the Valley they’ve seen in over a decade. He said they had to scramble to ensure they had enough Field Training Officers for the new recruits, but that was a “good problem to have” and they’re ready to start.

That’s really gonna help the guys and gals that are taking calls,” Hayes said. “It’s gonna be good for the community.”

Hayes noted that a large portion of the recruits they’re receiving are lateral hires with prior law enforcement experience, making it all the more exciting because those individuals will spend half the normal amount of time in the Field Training and Evaluation Program.

“We’re happy with that because they’re going to be able to help out on the street,” Hayes said.

Even with all this new help on their patrols, AST officers in the Valley still have their work cut out for them, according to Hayes. He said the summer months are the busiest time of the year for them and it’s always an uphill battle between manpower and workload.

“I really have to commend them. They find a way of getting around that,” Hayes said.

Graduates from the Sitka Academy include 20 AST and AWT officers, six village public safety officers, and recruits from several city, state, and borough police agencies.

“Congratulations to the first class of 2022 graduating from the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy,” Governor Mike Dunleavy stated in a recent press release. “Serving Alaskans through public safety is honorable work. I appreciate these motivated individuals who want to make Alaska a safer and better place to live.”

Graduates spent over 1,000 hours of training over the span of 17 weeks in the basic Alaska Law Enforcement Training program.

This program features intensive instruction in law enforcement-related topics, physical fitness, and numerous scenario-based exercises designed to prepare entry-level police officers and Alaska State Troopers for successful law enforcement careers across the state.

“These recruits should be proud of the work they have done to make it through this intensive training,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell stated in the press release. “The Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy produces some of the finest law enforcement officers in the nation. Officers from this class will be joining a proud tradition of service that protects Alaskans across our great state.”

The graduation was closed to the public, but anyone that’s interested in viewing the ceremony can watch a video recording on the official Alaska State Troopers Facebook page.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com