(Sitka, Alaska) – Last Friday, February 8, 2013, 13 VPSOs finished their first phase of training at the Public Safety Training Academy in Sitka, AK. This first phase of training consisted of five weeks of specifically designed courses to assist in preparing them for the duties as a Village Public Safety Officer.
Some of the courses provided in this first five weeks covered topics such as ethics in law enforcement, use of force, baton, pepper spray, officer survival, defensive tactics, Taser, report writing, crime scene investigation, etc. The training for these thirteen VPSOs will continue in several more two to three week phases over the course of the next year. Additional courses will include training in firefighting, criminal law, constitutional, law, search and rescue, cross cultural communications and report writing. The Department of Public Safety is coordinating multiple training phases throughout each calendar year in a variety of locations to provide frequent training opportunities for Village Public Safety Officers and others law enforcement working in rural Alaskan law enforcement. These thirteen VPSOs are from rural Alaskan communities across Alaska and are employed by a number of Alaskan Native Non-Profit Corporations. The individuals and their communities are:
- Colby Alakayak, Manokotak
- Kenneth Byerly, Aniak
- Edward David, Allakaket
- Rudolph Demoski, Jr., Anvik
- Richard Eunice, Kiana
- Curtis Francis, St. Mary’s
- Joshua Harville, Ruby
- Nickefer Kassel, Kipnuk
- Mark Bentley, Tetlin Village
- Corey Padron, Saxman
- Travis Ransom, Koyuk
- Travis Sheppard, Ouzinkie
- Barrett Taylor, Nelson Lagoon
