"Village Public Safety Officer program"

A legislative working group has come up with recommendations that Alaska lawmakers hope will solve some of the issues with the VPSO program.

Days before his death in 2005, Simeon Askoak told officials how a key Alaska rural policing program was broken. His village hasn’t had another permanent cop since.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr declared a law enforcement emergency in Alaska on June 28. The announcement follows a visit to the state where he saw firsthand how many rural communities have little-to-no public safety presence.

Rep. Dan Saddler said he wants more information on why many positions in the state-funded VPSO program are unfilled.

“We can utilize our programs with the state’s programs to deliver better services to our communities and our people,” says Richard Peterson.