Anchorage Police Department

-History

Throughout the early years when the city of Anchorage was simply a tent city, the United States Marshals handled the law enforcement in the city of Anchorage. Even when Anchorage was included as a first class city on the 23rd of November the year 1920, the United States Marshals still dealt with Anchorage.

One-Man Department

After one month, the City Council selected a “one-man Police Department” to “John J. Sturgus” as Chief of Police and started on the 1st of January 1921 with a salary of 2 hundred dollars a month. The death of the first Chief of Police of the Anchorage Police Department was the very first ever unsolved case of the Anchorage Police Department. After that regrettable occasion, many guys served Anchorage as Chief of Police.

24-hour police organization

By 1926, the City Council then hired night watchmen on long winter season which were from the month of October thru March. And on June 19 of 1935, property owners of the city of Anchorage petitioned the City Council to offer a 24-hour police organization. The City Council approved the petition and the very first Anchorage Police Department was put together.

First automobile

Nevertheless, it wasn’t up until August of 1930 that the Department got its very first automobile. Before that, the Department occasionally utilized and obtained cars from residents of Anchorage or they utilize a taxi service. And on April of 1941, the City Council bought the Anchorage Police Department it’s ever first new and totally geared up police vehicle.

The city of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough (GAAB) combined forming the “Municipality of Anchorage” on 1975. The Department was then contracted to serve authorities service to the Borough.

159 square miles and an approximated 227,000 people

At present, the Department is the biggest authorities department all over Alaska, covering over 159 square miles and an approximated 227,000 people. The Anchorage Police Department has actually been nationally acknowledged for its solvability rate and techniques. It still is dedicated to serve and secure the Municipality of Anchorage.

Death of the first Chief of Police

The death of the first Chief of Police of the Anchorage was the first ever unsolved case of the Department. Prior to that, the department sometimes utilized and borrowed cars and trucks from the people of Anchorage or they use a taxi service. The city of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough (GAAB) merged forming the “Municipality of Anchorage” on 1975. The Anchorage Police Department still is committed to secure the municipality and service of Anchorage.

Battle Fishing

Current Police Chief

Kenneth McCoy proudly serves as the Chief of Police for the Anchorage Police Department (APD) in Anchorage, Alaska. He began his law enforcement career with the APD in 1994, where he rose steadily through the ranks, serving in command assignments in patrol, detectives, and internal affairs. He was promoted to Acting Chief in April 2021 after serving as Deputy Chief of Operations for 4 years.

After graduating from Bartlett High School, Chief McCoy attended the New Mexico Military Institute where he received his commission into the United States Army in 1990. After commissioning, he served 10 years with the Alaska Army National Guard. He received an Honorable Discharge, at the rank of Captain, in February of 2000

M.D. Sullivan

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