Troopers announce promotions

Three Alaska State Troopers with connections to the Palmer post were recently promoted to the rank of sergeant, according to an announcement last week from Col. Randy Crawford, director of the Division of Alaska State Troopers.

Sgt. Mark Ridling will be leaving his patrol position in Seward to become a patrol supervisor in Palmer. Ridling has been with the Alaska State Troopers for more than 11 years.

His duties have included traffic enforcement, accident investigation, criminal investigation, search and rescue, public relations, and prisoner transport. Ridling has also served on the Troopers SERT team.

Sgt. Richard Terry will remain at the Palmer post, transferring from the General Investigation Unit to patrol supervisor. Terry joined the Alaska State Troopers in April 1984 following 10 years with the U.S. Air Force as a search and rescue parachuter and medical technician.

Terry has spent most of his time with the troopers in Palmer, with a few years in Kotzebue between 1998 and 2000.

While most of his career has been spent in patrol, Terry has also served 10 years on the troopers' SERT team, and has supervised village public safety officers in and around the Kotzebue area.

Sgt. David DeCoeur will be transferring from the Department of Public Safety Training Academy in Sitka to become the post supervisor in Cantwell.

DeCoeur left the Kodiak Police Department in March 1996 to join the Alaska State Troopers. DeCoeur has served in Palmer and St. Mary's as well as Sitka. He holds an advanced police certificate and is a certified instructor in defense tactics, firearms, field training, and radar operation.

Terry begins his new assignment today. Transfers for Ridling and DeCoeur are scheduled to be completed by Jan. 9, 2002.