The Alaska Department of Public Safety is a
law enforcement agency
A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.
Jurisdiction
LEAs which have their ability to apply their powers restricted in some way are said to operate within a jurisdiction.
LE ...
with its usual focus being the protection of life, property and wildlife resources in the state of
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety is under the direction of Commissioner James Cockrell.
Alaska DPS personnel enforce laws related to criminal statutes, traffic, wildlife, and fire. The Alaska DPS also performs search and rescue, court services and maintains criminal justice records.
Divisions
DPS has five divisions:
* Division of Administrative Services
* Division of
Alaska State Troopers
The Alaska State Troopers, officially the Division of Alaska State Troopers (AST), is the state police agency of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a division of the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Alaska State Troopers is a full-se ...
* Division o
Fire and Life Safety* Division o
Statewide Services* Division o
Alaska Wildlife Troopers
DPS also administers:
* th
Alaska Police Standards Council* th
Alaska Fire Standards Council* th
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault* the Alask
Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory
Unique feature
Unlike DPS agencies in many other states, due to the vast area of Alaska and limited local enforcement agencies, Alaska's DPS is the primary law enforcement and public safety organization for most of the state. The men and women of DPS provide service in conditions not usually found in many other parts of the country.
Fallen Officers
There have been 16 Alaska State Troopers, 1 Court Services Officer, and 2 K9s killed since its beginning in 1948.
See also
*
Sex Offender/Child Kidnapper Registry
*
List of law enforcement agencies in Alaska
External links
Alaska Department of Public SafetyAlaska State TroopersFraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers(with photographs)
Alaska State Troopers on National Geographic Channel(with video)
*
State law enforcement agencies of Alaska
Public Safety
Public security or public safety is the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety and security of the public from significant danger, injury, or property damage. It is often conducted by a state government to ensur ...
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