2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Director’s Letter _____________________________________________ 1
City of Fairbanks Overview __________________________________ 2
Department and Centennial Overview______________________ 3-4
Mission Statement __________________________________________ 5
Organizational Chart ________________________________________ 6
Employees __________________________________________________ 7
Goodbyes, Hellos, and Promotions _________________________ 8-9
Highlights of 2004_______________________________________10-11
Goals for 2005 _____________________________________________ 12
Law Enforcement Memorial______________________________13-14
Patrol___________________________________________________15-16
Foot and Bike Patrol _______________________________________ 17
Use of Force _______________________________________________ 18
Highway Safety __________________________________________19-20
Pursuit ____________________________________________________ 21
Motorcycle Unit ____________________________________________ 22
Investigations ___________________________________________23-24
Employee Spotlight-Chris Nolan ____________________________ 25
Abade/Metro ______________________________________________ 26
Emergency Communications Center _____________________27-30
Employee Spotlight-Julie Ritchie____________________________ 31
Evidence___________________________________________________ 32
Tactical Police Team_____________________________________33-34
K-9 Unit ___________________________________________________ 35
Department Fleet __________________________________________ 36
Snowmobile Safety Program ________________________________ 37
Alaska Police Corps ________________________________________ 38
Volunteer’s In Policing______________________________________ 39
Public Safety Commission __________________________________ 40
Statistics _______________________________________________41-45
Acknowledgements ______________________________________46-47
Front cover photo courtesy of: Sam Harrel-Fairbanks Daily News Miner

FAIRBANKS POLICE DEPARTMENT
911 Cushman Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701-4616
Phone: (907) 450-6500
Fax: (907) 452-1588
Email: fpd@ci.fairbanks.ak.us
Steve M. Thompson, Mayor
City of Fairbanks
Annual Report FPD 2004
Dear Mayor Thompson:
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
It is with a great deal of pleasure that I submit our Department’s 2004
Annual Report. I was honored to serve with the men and women of the
Fairbanks Police Department during our Department’s centennial year.
The 2004 Annual Report will cover many things that were done to
celebrate the Police Department’s 100 th birthday. More importantly, it
will document the accomplishments of the dedicated men and women
that will take the Police Department and the City of Fairbanks well into
the first half of the next century of service.
All of the credit for compiling this report goes to the Police Staff, Officers,
and Emergency Service Dispatchers that have done the work. Lt. Dusty
Johnson and Sgt. Doug Whorton deserve special recognition for their
work in planning for our Centennial Celebration, and in completing our
beautiful Police Memorial in time for our September Centennial
ceremony.
With the indispensable help of Administrative Assistant Yumi McCulloch
and Deputy Chief Dan Hoffman, we are proud to present the 2004
Fairbanks Police Department Annual Report.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Harris, Director
Fairbanks Police Department
12/02/02 to 02/28/05
Serving Fairbanks Since 1904

CITY OF FAIRBANKS
The City of Fairbanks is located in the heart of Alaska’s
Interior on the banks of the Chena River in the Tanana
Valley. The town was originally founded in the early 1900’s as a trading
post serving stern-wheeler riverboats and early gold prospectors. The
town still plays an important supply role in Alaska due to its proximity to
the Arctic region and North Slope oil fields. The City has a population of
approximately 30,224. The Golden Heart City, as it is known to most, is
64.8 degrees North Latitude and 147.7 degrees West Longitude.
The City is governed by Mayor Steve Thompson and the members of the
Fairbanks City Council. There are six Council members; Jerry Cleworth,
Jeff Johnson, John Eberhart, Howard Thies, Don Seeliger and Scott
Kawasaki. The Council meets twice a month to discuss matters of City
business.
In the summer of 2004, the City was enveloped
by heavy smoke from neighboring fires.
Visitors arriving in Fairbanks during this time
were mostly accepting of the weather
conditions and did not let it deter their plans
for seeing what the city has to offer. Residents
and visitors were offered the option of going to
local schools and other public buildings to get
relief from the smoke and keep children
occupied without having to send them outside.
Fairbanks is home of the Yukon Quest, Top of the World Basketball
Tournament, World Ice Art Championships, Tanana Valley State Fair and
Golden Days Celebration. Fairbanks also hosts the Open North
American Sled Dog Races, the Midnight Sun Run, the Equinox
marathon, the World Eskimo and Indian Olympics, the Festival of Native
Arts, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival and numerous athletic,
cultural, and community events.
Page 2

FAIRBANKS POLICE DEPARTMENT
CENTENNIAL OVERVIEW
The Fairbanks Police float for the Golden Days Parade included
the historic progression of our changing uniform wear.
2004 was a landmark year for Fairbanks. The Fairbanks Police Department
celebrated its 100 th anniversary, making it the oldest police department in the State of
Alaska. Our 2004 budget authorized 56.5 total staff- 42 commissioned and 14.5
civilian. The budget provided for 1 Director, 5 Lieutenants, 7 Sergeants, 3 Detectives,
and 26 Police Officers for a total of 42 commissioned officers. The authorized civilian
staff included 1 Administrative Assistant, 12 Radio Dispatchers, 1 Evidence
Custodian, and a half-time Facility Technician. Midway through 2004, a budget
amendment was passed for an additional civilian position, allowing us to staff a Front
Desk Clerk.
The Commissioned staff is assigned as follows: Investigations: One Lieutenant, three
Detectives, and two Investigators (one of which is assigned to work with the Statewide
Drug Unit in Fairbanks.) Patrol: thirty-two commissioned officers, including three
Lieutenants, six Sergeants, and twenty-three patrol officers. In addition to the six
Sergeants assigned to Patrol, the Department has one Sergeant assigned as Director of
the Alaska Police Corps, whose salary and benefits are paid for by this Federal
program. Lastly, we have a Police Director, with one Lieutenant assigned as the
Deputy Chief. The Fairbanks Police Department has a very balanced and experienced
staff with the ability to foster and develop in the workforce an attitude of caring and
public service.
Page 3

Our uniformed staff averages just less than ten years of service as commissioned
police officers. The average years-of-service for the civilian staff is approximately six
years. The most senior commissioned officer has thirty-two years with the City, While
our most senior civilian employee has been here for twenty-two years. A number of the
commissioned officers have had additional experience with other police departments
or law enforcement agencies. One Lieutenant and one Detective are currently members
of the Army Guard and the Air National Guard respectively. Twenty-seven members
of the Police Department have college degrees- three Masters, fifteen Bachelors, and
nine Associates.
Throughout 2004, the Fairbanks Police Department celebrated its centennial
anniversary. The centennial was honored with commemorative badges, collector
pistols, and a display of the Fairbanks Police Department’s history in our station’s
lobby. For 2004 only, commissioned officers were authorized to wear a special
commemorative “Star” badge, a reproduction of the original badges worn by this
Department in 1904. Two hundred of these badges were produced and then
purchased by the individual officers who wore them.
Patrol uniforms were put on display in the lobby of the Police Department. One of the
uniforms is the tan 1967 uniform adopted for the Alaska Purchase Centennial (1867-
1967). Our display case contains the Eisenhower jacket that accompanied the
uniform. The current F.P.D. navy-blue uniform replaced our tan uniform in 1989. As
part of our centennial display, the Fairbanks Police Department also honored Dorotha
Hilliard, the first female police officer to serve in Fairbanks. Officer Hilliard is
currently buried at the Yankovich Road Cemetery.
The Police Department also
authorized the production of a Glock
G-21 collector’s pistol,
commemorating our Centennial. The
Glock has the current Department
badge on the right side with the
words “Fairbanks Police 100th
Anniversary 1904-2004”. The G-21
is the same pistol currently in use at
FPD. The Serial number series
produced for this limited-edition
pistol ran from JKL811 to JKL911.
“JKL” commemorates the loss of
Officer John “Kevin” Lamm; the end-
number of 911 reflects not only the
emergency-notification phone number, but also our Department’s address on
Cushman Street. The Police Department lobby currently holds display cases which
showcase memorabilia from our past. The success of this celebration, specifically the
production of commemorative badges, collector pistols and the lobby display, is
attributed to the countless hours and dedication of Lieutenant Don “Dusty” Johnson.
Page 4

MISSION STATEMENT
Our Mission is to Serve the public with Integrity, Wisdom, Courage,
and Compassion; working in partnership with the community
to make Fairbanks a great place to live, work and visit.
VISION STATEMENT
The Fairbanks Police Department will provide the highest quality of police services
by working in partnership with the community to improve the quality of life in
Fairbanks, while at the same time maintaining respect for individual rights and
human dignity. The Department recognizes the value and importance of its
employees and will ensure that all employees are treated equitably and fairly. The
Department is committed to providing its members with the quality of leadership,
training and equipment to perform its mission.
ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Partnership
We are committed to working in partnership with the community and
each other to identify and resolve issues which impact public safety
Respect
We are committed to respecting individual rights, human dignity, and
value of all members of the community and the department.
Integrity
We are committed to nurturing the public trust by holding ourselves
accountable to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.
Dedication
We are committed to providing the highest quality of professional law enforcement
service to the community with the goal of enhancing the quality of life in Fairbanks.
Empowerment
We are committed to empowering our members and community to
resolve problems by creating an environment that encourages
solutions and addresses the needs of the community.
Page 5

Custodian
(.5)
Communications
Lead Dispatcher (3)
Dispatcher (10)
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Support
Admin. Asst (1)
Front Desk Clerk (1)
Evidence
Evidence Tech (1)
Fairbanks Police Department
December 2004
Police Director (1)
Page 6
Patrol
Day Shift
Lieutenant (1)
Sergeant (2)
Officers (8)
Swing Shift
Lieutenant (1)
Sergeant (2)
Officers (8)
Mid Shift
Lieutenant (1)
Sergeant (2)
Officers (8)
Deputy Chief (Lt.) (1)
Investigations
Lieutenant (1)
Detective (3)
Investigator (1)
Police Corps
Sergeant. (1)
Admin. Asst (1)

FAIRBANKS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
LIST OF EMPLOYEES
Administration Police Corps
Director Paul Harris Sergeant James Welch
Deputy Chief Dan Hoffman Evidence
Admin. Assistant Yumi McCulloch Evidence Tyler Mowrey
Front Desk Clerk Melanie Troseth
Investigations
Lieutenant Dave Kendrick Detective Chris Nolan
Detective Randy Coffey Investigator Bruce Barnett
Detective Tara Tippett
Patrol
Lieutenant Dusty Johnson Officer Phil James
Lieutenant James Lowe, Sr. Officer Gary Korshin
Lieutenant Ray Miller Officer Stewart Lewis
Sergeant Ron Bowers Officer Jeromey Lindhag
Sergeant James Geier Officer James Lowe, Jr.
Sergeant Eric Jewkes Officer Dave McKillican
Sergeant Brad Johnson Officer Peyton Merideth
Sergeant Dan Welborn Officer James O'Malley
Sergeant Douglas Whorton Officer B.C. Rigdon
Officer Andrew Adams Officer Matt Soden
Officer Scott Adams Officer Dave Stevenson
Officer Kurt Allen Officer Peggy Sullivan
Officer Chris DeLeon Officer Robert Thompson
Officer Dave Elzey Officer Doug Welborn
Officer Greg Foster Officer Alex Wells
Officer Ben Holston Officer Gary Yamamoto
Officer Pearl Holston
Dispatch
Lead Dispatcher Bonnie Nolan Lead Dispatcher Stephanie Johnson
Lead Dispatcher Julie Ritchie
Dispatcher Rebecca Christiansen Dispatcher Martha Lawrence
Dispatcher Karen Estes Dispatcher Brenda Meltvedt
Dispatcher Sarah Hilton Dispatcher Kristi Murray
Dispatcher Jessica Jensen Dispatcher Tammy Streeter
Dispatcher Glenda Kroshus Dispatcher Patty Yamamoto
Page 7

GOOD-BYES, HELLOS AND PROMOTIONS
2004 saw the following personnel changed in the Fairbanks Police Department:
March
April
May
June
o After 24 years serving the City of Fairbanks, Dispatcher Barbara Niles
retired from the Fairbanks Police Department on March 1st.
o Dispatcher Jessica Jensen returned to the Fairbanks Police Department
on March 2 nd after relocating to Georgia in 2003.
o On March 9 th , Dispatcher Teri Helmers retired after 16 years with the
Fairbanks Police Department.
� Melanie Troseth came to the Fairbanks Police Department on April 1 st
from Minnesota to work as a Dispatcher, then transferred to the position
of Front Desk on July 1 st .
� Also arriving on April 1 st was Police Officer Andrew Adams, our first
recruit cultivated through the Alaska Police Corps program.
� April 9 th brought Amber Crozier to the Department as a Dispatcher;
Amber subsequently resigned on August 27th.
• Detective Clifford “Aaron” Ring retired from the Fairbanks Police
Department on May 14 th after 23 years.
� On June 1 st , Lieutenant Dave Kendrick was reassigned to Lieutenant in
Charge of Investigations: Sergeant James Welch was reassigned as
Director of the Alaska Police Corps Program, and Lieutenant Dan
Hoffman was appointed to serve as F.P.D.’s Deputy Chief.
� Also on June 1 st, Dispatchers Bonnie Nolan and Stephanie Johnson
were promoted to Lead Dispatcher.
� North Pole Dispatcher Tammy Streeter joined F.P.D. on June 8 th , after
the Fairbanks Police Department took over the dispatch function for the
North Pole Police Department.
Page 8

July
August
September
October
November
December
� On June 16 th , Police Officer Chris Nolan was promoted to Detective.
� Dispatcher Gwen Hoffman, after completing 20 years of service, retired on
June 18 th .
� Dispatcher Julie Ritchie was promoted to Lead Dispatcher on July 19 th .
o On August 4 th , Dispatcher Karen Estes began employment with the
Fairbanks Police Department.
o Police Officer Chris DeLeon began work with the Fairbanks Police
Department on August 16 th .
� On September 27 th , Police Officer Perry Williamson retired from the
Fairbanks Police Department after completing 22 years of service.
� On October 27 th Dispatcher Brenda Meltvedt transferred from the Alaska
State Troopers to the Fairbanks Police Department.
� Dispatcher Sarah Hilton began employment on November 29 th. Sarah
worked previously at the Airport Police Department.
� On December 3 rd , Dispatcher Katie Rubin resigned from the Fairbanks
Police Department and was hired as a Shift Supervisor in Arizona.
Page 9

Highlights of 2004
February: First Police Corps Academy graduation; Police Corps graduate Ace
Adams hired.
March: Officers Gary Korshin and Peyton Merideth
attend a month long Accident Investigation I
& II training at Northwestern University.
The training provides the Department with 2
additional officers (for a total of 4) certified to
conduct serious accident investigations and
reconstructions.
Sergeant Doug Whorton attends the week long Pursuit Instructor
and PIT/TVI Certification in Minnesota. The training provides the
Department with an active Emergency Vehicle Driving Instructor
and Sgt. Whorton will provide instruction at the In-Service
Training in April.
April: Commissioned Officers completed 40-hour
session of In-Service training including
Emergency Vehicle operation, Crime Scene
processing and evidence handling, Firearms
training and recertification, Taser training
and certification and Domestic Violence
training.
May: On May 15 th , the Fairbanks Police Department sponsored the
Annual Police Memorial Day. The event was coordinated by
Lieutenant Dusty Johnson and included an overview of the
Department’s Centennial.
May 24-June 6, the Fairbanks Police Department participated in
the “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt-use enforcement campaign. During
this timeframe, 205 vehicles were stopped resulting in 84 seatbelt
citations, 3 DUI arrests and 18 other cases being generated.
June: Implementation of Regional Dispatch Center, taking over Dispatch
functions for North Pole Police, North Star Fire, Salcha Rescue,
and Delta Communications.
The Fairbanks Police Department produces its first Annual Report,
reflecting performance and accomplishments in 2003.
Page 10

July: Initiated contract with Guardian Flight to provide Dispatch
services for their Medivac services, in conjunction with Guardian
Flight’s Sitka expansion.
August: Detective Division’s Forensic Data Recovery Lab fully-equipped and
operational
September: F.P.D. celebrates its 100 th year of service to the community!
The memorial honoring Interior Alaska Police Officers killed in the
line-of-duty is completed at 911 Cushman Street, and is dedicated
on F.P.D.’s Centennial.
The second Police Corps Academy is begun, with two F.P.D.
recruits attending.
October: Tactical Team and Patrol Members
utilized Fort Wainwright’s new fortymillion
dollar urban warfare training
center, conducting coordinated interagency
training exercises through our
Homeland Security grant.
December: F.P.D. Employees, working with the Fairbanks Native Association
and Toys-for-Tots, raise $2500.00 in Christmas gifts to deliver to
nineteen sponsored children from low-income families.
Page 11

GOALS FOR 2005
Director Paul Harris retired from service on February 28 th, 2005. The following goals
and objectives have been set for the remainder of 2005 by Acting Director Dan
Hoffman:
1. The primary goal and “action-plan” for the Fairbanks Police Department in
2005 is to develop and implement the plans, procedures, and communitypartnerships
necessary to provide a safe and supportive environment for
the upcoming Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Conference in October of
2005. Goals and objectives to achieve this result include:
- Chairing the Health and Safety Committee with the Fairbanks
Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, one of twelve task-specific committees
created to oversee preparation for the AFN Conference.
- Delivering training to local hotel and motel managers in security
procedures, professional standards, de-escalation techniques, and
emergency response.
- Working with AFN personnel and representatives from the Interior Center
for Nonviolent Living to proactively reduce those circumstances which
can lead to sexual assaults and other victimization.
- Mobilization of Detectives and personnel with the Office of Adult
Probation/Parole to conduct proactive sweeps for potential predators that
may look to victimize conference attendees.
- Continue the excellent working relationship between the Fairbanks Police
Department and the Alaska State Troopers, utilizing the resources of
both Troopers and V.P.S.O’s where appropriate.
- Implement and staff a 24-hour communications and command center for
the duration of the event, manned with AFN liaison personnel and
committee representatives to facilitate open communication, emergency
notifications, and the timely resolution of any issues, as built into our
2005 Homeland Security grant proposal.
2. Bring the Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) system online to insure
interagency communications ability in times of crisis, joint-operations,
etc.
3. Further enhancement of our Regional Dispatch Center, with acquisition of
the contract for the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s Emergency
Operations.
4. Continue to develop and implement a true “Mobile Data” system, allowing
Officers to receive APSIN, Dispatch, and other computer information in
their vehicles.
5. Work closely with the Volunteers-in-Policing (VIP) program to expand
recruitment and participation, as well as expanding the role of the
organization to provide increased assistance with crime-prevention
programs, police training, and community outreach.
6. Maintain authorized staffing levels through aggressive recruitment.
Page 12

LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL
Fairbanks Police Officer John Kevin Lamm was shot
and killed on January 1, 1998. He was only the
second F.P.D. Officer in the history of the
Department to be killed in the line-of-duty.
Shortly thereafter, the Fairbanks Police Department
formed a board to research the construction of an
appropriate Police Memorial. The project would
span the course of six years from inception to completion. Ideas regarding design,
location, and the inclusive nature of the memorial all generated significant input.
The project kicked into high-gear when the NANA Corporation graciously offered
to donate a 4600-pound jade boulder to serve as the centerpiece of the memorial.
The boulder was air-shipped from Kotzebue to Anchorage, and then trucked to
Fairbanks, all courtesy of Lynden Transport.
When the Fairbanks Police Department’s new
building was completed in 2002 at 911 Cushman
Street, all involved agreed that this central
downtown location would be an ideal site for our
Law Enforcement Memorial.
On May 26 th 2004 the U.S. Department of
Justice, Office of Justice Programs, approved a
“Law Enforcement Tribute” grant submitted by the Fairbanks Police Department.
This grant provided the necessary funding for site preparation, purchase of
flagpoles and plaques, and other items necessary for the completion of the
project. Realizing that Officer Lamm’s birthday, the 100 th Year Anniversary of the
Fairbanks Police Department, and Labor Day all fell on the same day, a targetdate
of September 6 th was set for the completion and dedication of the memorial.
Through the combined efforts of Interior
Granite Works who cut and polished the
jade, J & T Foundry who finished the
bronze casting, the Fairbanks Public
Works Department who prepared the site,
and the considerable construction and
placement efforts by members of the
Alaska Laborer’s Apprenticeship
Program- Local 942- the finished jade
memorial was ready to be placed at the
site.
Anticipation and excitement grew as, one week before the scheduled ceremony;
the 3,600-pound jade boulder arrived and was set for placement. Onlookers
Page 13

watched as the weight of
the jade caused the cable
on the truck’s hoist to
groan. Carefully lining-up
the protruding stems of
rebar with the three holes
which had been drilled in
the boulder, the jade was
finally secured on its base.
The last of the sealing
mortar was put in place; it
was now time to finalize the
plans for the dedication
ceremony.
September 6, 2005, was a clear day with approximately 100 people in attendance
at the dedication of the Law Enforcement Memorial. The ceremony’s highlight was
the keynote address given by Chief Lynn Lamm, father of Officer Kevin Lamm,
with his family and friends in attendance. Representatives from local police
agencies were also present, participating in the ceremony by acknowledging each
of the officers whose names appeared on the memorial. After the ceremony the
Fairbanks Police Department invited the community inside for an open house.
Interior Alaska Law Enforcement agencies represented: Fairbanks Police, Alaska State Troopers, North Pole Police,
Airport Police, University of Alaska Fairbanks Police, United States Army and United States Air Force
Page 14

PATROL OVERVIEW
The Fairbanks Police Department’s Patrol Division is, by far, the largest
division within the Department. In 2004, our police officers were authorized to
wear a special badge. The five pointed star worn was a “silver” badge with the
City seal instead of the State of Alaska Seal. This badge was reminiscent of the
badge worn by Chief George Norton in the 1930’s. Comments from citizens
were very positive, and other agencies praised the badge’s appearance and
historical relevance.
Officers within the patrol division rose to
the challenges in 2004 with increased
requests for service. In 2004, the
Department took more than 25,500 calls
for service, an increase from 2003. Traffic
enforcement and other self-initiated actions
are not included in this figure.
The entire patrol division received inservice
and refresher training during the
month of March. The topics included
Emergency Vehicle Operation, crime-scene
processing and evidence handling,
firearms, Taser use and certification, and Domestic Violence response. The
City of Nenana hosted the Emergency Vehicle Operation training. In most
cases, the training was conducted by in-house trainers within the department.
The patrol division has a great selection of talented officers who instruct topics
such as firearms, defensive tactics, Taser, tactical training, DUI detection and
Datamaster processing, less-than-lethal technology applications, and
snowmachine safety.
Page 15
According to the FBI, the
national average of staffing
levels for law enforcement
employees, which includes
commissioned and civilian
positions, is 3.5 employees
per 1,000 inhabitants.
Staffing levels of
commissioned officers alone is
2.5 officers per 1000 and 2.3
officers per 1000 in cities.
The 2004 staffing levels of the
Fairbanks Police Department,
based upon the 2000 census

of 30,224 inhabitants in the City of Fairbanks, is 2.0 law enforcement
employees per 1000 inhabitants. Commissioned officers alone are at 1.4 per
1000. The current population of Fairbanks is estimated at approximately
32,000 with an additional 50,000 people residing in the area that frequent the
city.
The Fairbanks Police
Department subscribes to the
values of community policing,
and works actively with our
partner organization- the
Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.’s).
The VIP’s staff and field
community-patrols every
weekend, beginning on Thursdays. The VIP’s assist patrol on impounds,
searches, locating stolen vehicles, DUI patrol and other activities. Community
policing and the Volunteers in Policing are an invaluable asset.
There are currently thirty-three
commissioned officers assigned to patrol,
with eleven members staffing each of three
shifts. At full-staffing, each patrol shift
consists of a Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and
eight patrol officers. This year, the
Fairbanks Police Department employed its
first graduate from the Police Corps. The
coming year promises to employ at least two
more officers from this program. Currently
the patrol division is working a 4-10 shift.
This work schedule allows for an “overlap”
of shifts during peak service hours, and
affords the “off-going” shift officers an
opportunity to complete arrest reports and
court complaints during regular dutyhours,
reducing the need to pay overtime.
Sergeant Jim Geier was wounded in the line of duty in the month of December.
Sergeant Geier is still on light duty as a result of this. Sergeant Geier is
expected to make a complete recovery.
Page 16

DOWNTOWN FOOT AND BIKE PATROL
Downtown foot/bike patrol offers law enforcement officers a unique opportunity to
interact with the public in a very accessible and positive way. The Downtown foot
patrol area is bordered by Slater Street on the north and 10 th Ave on the south.
The east border is the Steese Expressway and Barnette Street the west border.
This area includes Golden Heart Park, Graehl Landing, the Visitor’s Center and
numerous local businesses and restaurants. The hours for foot patrol are from
noon to 10 pm. The volume of foot traffic downtown during the summer is
considerable and consists of business owners, patrons, and tourists.
A foot/bike patrol officer has the ability to
interact with the public in a relatively lowkey
manor. Officers can build a rapport
with people who otherwise may have very
little police contact. Being on foot or on a
bicycle reduces the barriers between the
public and law enforcement. This gives the
public and opportunity to ask general
questions or address concerns that are not
emergency oriented. Establishing a police
presence in the downtown area fosters a
feeling of confidence and safety.
During the summer of 2004 the foot/ bike
officer responded to a variety of complaints to include drinking in public,
trespassing, thefts, and assaults. Twenty one arrests were made and six citations
written. Most of these offenses involved the nuisance crimes such as open
container, drinking in public, and disorderly conduct.
One concern frequently mentioned by business owners and patrons is the number
of chronic inebriates who hang out in mass in the downtown parks during the
summer. A foot patrol officer is able to enforce liquor violations and respond
quickly to problems that invariably occur. The Officer’s ability to quickly respond
to even minor problems discourages those who engage in illegal behavior and often
encourages them to move their activities out of the downtown area.
Another problem arose during the summer of 2004. A group of juveniles was
targeting the chronic inebriate population for late night assaults and robberies.
Initially victims were not reporting the assaults to police, but after some
questioning about injuries a pattern of attacks emerged. By analyzing the crimes,
police and social service were able to focus directed patrols and resources to
combat the problem. These actions provided more protection to a vulnerable
population and ended the assaults.
Overall a foot patrol officer is in a unique position to act as a liaison between the
community and the department. Through networking and extensive community
contact a patrol officer can help address community concerns, identify effective
strategies, track crime trends, and provide services to people who may otherwise
slip through the cracks.
Page 17

USE OF FORCE
Incidents which require our police officers to use physical force, beyond simply placing
handcuffs on a subject, are reviewed and tracked by the Department Administration.
Any incident involving use-of-force requires a detailed narrative description which
relates the circumstances leading up to the event, the choices and reasons for force
option(s) used, the results, and a description of follow-up care.
In 2004 the Fairbanks Police Department were required to close 1,838 cases with a
physical arrest, for an average of five persons being taken into physical custody on a
criminal charge every day! There are also numerous cases where subjects have to be
taken into physical custody for medical and psychological screening/evaluation, such
as Title 47’s, suicidal subjects, etc. Of the 1838 arrests and other detention categories
mentioned above, fifty-six (56) were considered “Use-of-Force incidents,” requiring
physical control and restraint beyond normal handcuffing.
None of these fifty-six incidents created significant injuries to the person taken into
custody. There were 6 instances of reported minor injuries, which consisted of minor
scrapes, bruises, or complaints of pain.
In 2004 the Fairbanks Police Department completed its Taser training, transitioning
from the M26 to X26 Taser. As part of this training, every commissioned officer is
required to be “tazed” themselves, so that they have a full appreciation of the Taser’s
effects. In 2004 our officers used the X26 Taser as a method of control 21 times. The
Taser was fired 15 times (shooting two barbs into the suspect’s skin) and 6 times that
were “drive stuns” where no barbs were fired. The primary benefit of the Taser is that
it can temporarily incapacitate a highly-resistive offender, allowing an officer to
handcuff and establish physical control. Prior to the issuance of Tasers, officers often
had to resort to punches, kicks, or baton-strikes while taking a resistive subject into
cusody, all of which posed a much greater chance of injury to the subject.
OC (pepper spray) was used two times during the year, the ASP expandable baton was
used once, and thirty-two subjects were brought under control using “empty-hand
techniques,” without further escalation of force.
The Department’s Use-of-Force training is conducted by certified, in-house
instructors. The Department continues to seek out, evaluate, and invest in new
technology and ideas that will create a safer working environment for the public and
for our police officers.
Page 18

HIGHWAY SAFETY
In past years, F.P.D. received grant
funding which allowed for the
staffing of a “traffic unit,” whose
sole responsibility was trafficenforcement
and the investigation
of motor vehicle accidents. With
the loss of that grant funding,
traffic enforcement is now
conducted based on the
availability of Officers on a given
shift. However, F.P.D. still does its
best to maintain a strong
enforcement presence. In 2004, the
Department issued 3,139 traffic citations
for 120 different violations. Top five violations included:
1) Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance, 2) Speeding, 3) Expired Registration, 4)
Open Containers, and 5) Red Light violations.
Additionally,
F.P.D. handled another 3,159 trafficrelated
calls, to include: 133 auto thefts, 139
suspended/revoked driver arrests, 605 D.U.I.
calls/arrests, 4 negligent-driving
complaints/citations, 207 reckless-driving
complaints/arrests, and 632 other general traffic
complaints. In addition to these calls, the
Department documented 1,428 traffic accidents
that included damage (964), injury (180), and “hit-
and-run” reports (284).
In 2003, Officer Gary Yamamoto and Sergeant
Dan Welborn comprised our Accident-
Investigation team. During 2004 we met
one of
our 2003 goals, sending Officers Peyton
Merideth and Gary Korshin to the
Northwestern Traffic Institute in Chicago,
Illinois. Both officers received 160 hours of
specialized training, joining our team as “oncall”
members who can be utilized for the
investigation of serious injury and/or fatality
accidents. Our Department utilizes a Sokia
Total Station computerized survey-system to
measure and diagram fatality scenes. F.P.D. pla ns to update the computerized
software during 2005.
Page 19

Sergeant Dan Welborn has written traffic grants for
the Department for the last nine years. These grants
involve Federal and State funding through the Alaska
Highway Safety Office (AHSO). Much of the
Department’s traffic equipment, as well as training,
have been funded through AHSO, for which our
Department is grateful. Due to the fact that a new
Transportation Bill was not passed during 2003 or
2004, the Department was
not allowed to submit our annual requests.
However, based on continuing efforts by the AHSO and FPD, the Department
did receive funds in 2004 for the “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” and the
“Click It or Ticket” directed-enforcement campaigns.
The
Fairbanks Police Department conducted three specialized traffic-
enforcement periods between July 2 rough the
nd and the end of 2004, funded th
aforementioned ASHO grants. These directed-enforcement operations resulted
in 66 arrests, 473 written citations, and 464 traffic-stops. A tremendously
important “secondary benefit” that arises from these grant-funded enforcement
projects: the “extra” Officers assigned on these details are out “on the road,”
and can assist on numerous calls as “back-up” officers for safety purposes, as
well as providing a strong visible presence and deterrent to crime.
Page 20

PURSUIT TRAINING
In 1996, Officers with F.P.D. and A.S.T. were involved in a pursuit of a motorist who had
committed a traffic violation and then refused to stop at the direction of the following
police vehicles. Despite the use of emergency lights and sirens, the fleeing suspect
collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Airport and Cowles. The collision resulted in
serious injuries to Jason Weaver, and caused the tragic and untimely death of John
Weaver, both innocent third-parties.
This incident, as with other similar scenarios experienced across the nation, caused our
community and the Fairbanks Police Department to re-examine and evaluate its policy on
vehicle pursuits. The result has been a much more restrictive policy, requiring officers
and on-duty supervisors to carefully weigh the risks and hazards created by any pursuit,
versus the necessity for an immediate apprehension of a criminal suspect.
In 2004 the Fairbanks Police Department successfully met one of its 2003 goals, sending
Sgt. Doug Whorton to Pursuit-Driving/Instruction school where he was successfully
certified as a Department Instructor. This training was put to immediate use, as Sgt.
Whorton returned and conducted a series of eight-hour classes, attended by all
commissioned personnel. Lessons in vehicle operations were coupled with reviews of
current policy, procedure, and discussions on proper decision-making. All F.P.D. Officers
are made keenly aware of the risks inherent in any vehicle pursuit and are reminded that
in many circumstances the dangers created by a pursuit far outweigh the necessity for
capture.
In 2004 F.P.D. Officers initiated twentyfour
traffic stops which evolved into
pursuits, seven of which were immediately
terminated due to the perceived risks
involved with time-of-day, area traffic, road
conditions, etc. Of the seventeen which
continued, all culminated in the
apprehension of the driver, with no injuries
Other, 8
CONTINUED PURSUITS
DUI, 9
Continued,
17
TOTAL PURSUITS: 24
Terminated
, 7
or further collisions resulting. It should be noted that nine of the drivers were charged
with DUI, which presents one of the most
problematic situations for Officers: the paradoxical
decision as to whether to try and stop a significant
hazard on the road (as presented by an obviously
impaired driver), versus “letting the driver go,”
knowing that they will present a continuing- and
possibly deadly-threat on our community’s
roadways.
In 2004 F.P.D. also assisted other area law-enforcement agencies three (3) times with their
pursuits. In December of 2004 Sergeant Jim Geier responded to assist Airport Police
Units as they attempted to track a suspect who had attempted to elude them. The fleeing
suspect opened fire with a 9mm handgun, wounding Sergeant Geier. The suspect was
then shot and killed by the Airport Police Officer.
Page 21

F.P.D. MOTORCYCLE PROGRAM
The Fairbanks Police Department continued its Police Motorcycle Program in 2004. This
represented our third year of operation, with Harley Davidson’s Farthest-North Outpost
once again donating two brand-new Harley Davidson Police Road King (FLHPI's) bikes.
The motorcycles are leased for $1.00 a month, representing a historical “token fee”
through Harley Davidson’s leasing program, and are used by F.P.D. during the summer
months. The Outpost fronts the capitol outlay for the bikes, and then sells the
motorcycles when F.P.D. returns them in the fall. This allows a customer to purchase a
Harley Davidson motorcycle that was used in “actual police service.”
The Outpost’s Service Department performed nearly all
maintenance and routine work on the bikes, getting our
Officers back on the road as soon as possible. The
Fairbanks Chapter of the Harley Owners Group took
donations to initiate the program in its first year,
purchasing emergency lights and equipment for the Road
Kings. Community support for the program has been
overwhelmingly positive, and our motor officers often
have to cut conversations short to respond to calls for
service, as people love to talk to the Officers about their
Harleys! The Motor Officers’ dedication to the program is
unparalleled; they donate their time to ensure that the
bikes are waxed and washed before every parade and
community event. Our three Motor Officers have
purchased their own leather jackets and protective equipment, and agreed to forgo paid
overtime for special events where the bikes are needed.
Our Motor Squad consists of Sgt. Eric Jewkes, Officer
Matt Soden, and Officer Dave Stevenson. In addition to
parade and ceremonial support duties, the unit
undertook a more aggressive posture in traffic
enforcement in 2004. Through both the “Click it or
Ticket” seatbelt campaign and construction-zone traffic
details, motor officers contributed to our overall
enforcement efforts. (Much to the chagrin of many
motorists, who are not used to seeing police motorcycles in the Interior and often don’t
realize that the motorcycle is a “police bike” until the red-and-blue lights come on!)
During the 2004 riding season, Our Motor Squad tallied twenty-two felony arrests,
seventy-three misdemeanor arrests, and wrote ninety-seven traffic citations. Motor
Officers were the primary responder on 797 calls for service, and backed-up other
officers on many more calls. Our Motor Officers escorted the Harley-Owner’s Group
(HOGS) for the Chatanika River Run, and led the Special Olympics’ Torch Run and the
Midnight Sun Run. Once again leading the Golden Day’s Parade and then patrolling
back through the parade-route, we reduced injuries and potential problems along the
way, providing our Motor Officers with a great assignment to mix with the members of
our community!
Page 22

INVESTIGATIONS
Lieutenant Dave Kendrick was the supervisor for the Investigations Unit in 2004. Three
Detectives were assigned to the Unit- Detectives Ring, Coffey and Tippett. In May of 2004
Detective Ring retired, and Officer Chris Nolan was promoted to the rank of Detective. In
December of 2004 Officer David Elzey was assigned to the Unit as an Investigator to assist
with major crimes and street-drug investigations.
The mission of the Investigations
Unit is to investigate major
crimes and conduct follow-up
investigations of robberies,
sexual assaults, and child-abuse
cases. In 2004 our top priority
was given to unresolved
homicides carried over from
2003, as well as investigating the
two additional homicides which
occurred in 2004.
Of the five unsolved homicides
since 2002, three were related to
cocaine- either by use, possession or distribution. Investigation of these cases led to the
seizure of 1,403 grams of cocaine and 23 grams of crack cocaine, representing a value of
$178,250. In 2004 our Unit investigated forty-five armed robberies, a number that reflects
an upward trend which began in 2001 and has increased each year. The unit focused on
the most serious of these cases, leading to arrests and criminal indictments on multiple
defendants in four of these cases, with more indictments anticipated in the near future.
Once again, a connection was made between the robberies and illegal drugs. For 2005 the
unit will continue to focus on unsolved homicides and serious drug-related crimes.
Statistics:
Unit statistics for 2004 reveal that case-numbers are down somewhat from 2003, and show
the Unit directed more resources and man-hours towards open-homicide cases and major
street crimes.
� 124 cases assigned to the
Investigations Unit
� 31 cases closed by arrest or cleared
� 51 cases open/active carried over
from 2004 to 2005
� 32 cases open/inactive
� 214 case supplements submitted for
action or case closure
� Investigated two homicide deaths
Assigned
124
Closed by Arrest
or Cleared
31
Page 23
Investigations Case Activity
Open/Active
51
Open/Inactive
32
Submitted for Action or
Case Closure
214

In 2004, Detective Randy Coffey
completed a project that had been
initiated in 2003: the Forensic Data
Recovery Lab. The primary purpose of
the Lab is to investigate and collect
forensic evidence involving computercrimes,
particularly crimes involving
the internet and crimes-againstchildren.
Detectives received training
from Guidance Software, using the
ENCASE Forensic Data Recovery
System. Additional funding and
training was supplied through the
National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children. Detective Coffey
obtained funds from the Internet
Crimes against Children (I.C.A.C.)
task-force to purchase two forensic
computer systems for the lab.
Minor
Open
48%
Sexual Assault Cases
Additionally, Alyeska Pipeline Company donated $2,500.00 to purchase special forensic
data-recovery software and hardware. This equipment will not only assist with
investigations of crimes against children but will aid in the investigation of robbery, fraud,
homicide, and identity-theft, and any other case where evidence may be retrieved from a
suspect’s computer. Investigations on two
computer crimes, both involving crimes-
against-children, were conducted in 2004. In
one of those cases the defendant was
convicted on two felony counts relating to
sexual crimes. Detective Coffey is currently
the primary coordinator for Internet crimes-
against-children for all Interior police agencies.
Adult
Open
39%
Adult
Closed or
Cleared
61%
Minor
Closed or
Cleared
52%
In 2004 our Investigations Unit conducted
nine truth-verification examinations using the
Computer Voice-Stress Analyzer (CVSA), for
both F.P.D. and other requesting agencies.
The Unit conducted three comprehensive preemployment
background investigations on prospective F.P.D. Police Officer applicants, and
three background investigations on F.P.D. Dispatcher applicants.
In 2004 Detectives also worked on several Department projects and training assignments.
Detective Tippett served on the Fairbanks Domestic Violence Task Force, the Sexual Assault
Response Team (SART) and the Safety Audit Committee. Detective Tippett also instructed at
the TVC Police Academy during two different sessions, instructing in Domestic Violence,
Interviewing Techniques, DNA Evidence, Sexual Abuse of Minor Investigations, and Sexual
Assault Investigations.
Page 24

FPD MEMBER PROFILE:
DETECTIVE CHRIS NOLAN
Chris Nolan was promoted to the rank of Detective in 2004. Chris first
came to Fairbanks in 1984 with the United States Army. Chris spent 10
years in the active Army, serving as a Military Police officer and CID
Agent. After moving to Fairbanks, Chris fell in love with Alaska’s Interior
and decided to stay. Chris joined the Fairbanks Police Department as an
Emergency-Services Dispatcher in December of 1992. Chris
distinguished himself in this assignment, using his skills as an
experienced investigator to help resolve calls for service. In March of
1995, Chris left the Fairbanks
Police Department to take a job
as a Probation Officer for the
state of Alaska. Chris served as
a Probation Officer for 5 years
before jumping at the
opportunity to return to F.P.D.
as a Police Officer in January of
2000. From January 2000 to his
promotion in 2004, Chris worked
as a patrol officer. Chris also
serves as a member of the
Tactical Police Team, the
Department’s special-response
unit that is deployed in high-risk
situations.
Since leaving active military service, Chris has continued to serve Alaska
and the United States as a Master Sergeant in the Alaska Air National
Guard, deploying twice to the Mideast in support of ongoing military
operations there. Returning from his last tour, Chris brought an
American flag which was flown over Iraq in combat operations by a U.S.
F-16 fighter jet during operation Iraqi Freedom. The flag is now proudly
displayed in the Fairbanks Police Department.
Chris is married to Fairbanks Police Department Lead-Dispatcher Bonnie
Nolan. They live in the Fairbanks area with their three children. Chris
also has another child from a previous marriage, who lives out of state.
When he’s not busy at work or serving in the National Guard, Chris
enjoys working on home-improvement projects and fishing. He also finds
time to coach youth hockey. Chris states that his favorite book is “The
Hobbit”, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Page 25

ABADE/METRO
The term METRO is short for the Metropolitan Drug Task Force that was established
in the early 1970’s . At the time Fairbanks Police Department Detective Roland
Bonneville and Alaska State Trooper Investigator Joe Turner established the METRO
Unit. The focus of attention during the early years of METRO was to target vice
crimes such as prostitution. During the early to mid 1970’s the Alaska Pipeline was
under construction, bringing a rapid increase to the Fairbanks-area population. The
influx of people also brought increased prostitution, gambling and illegal drug
trafficking. This led to the expansion of the unit to include Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) Special Agent Dick Widner, who assisted with case
investigations.
The mission of today’s Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement (ABADE)
Unit is to interdict and seize alcohol and controlled substances that are illegally
distributed throughout Alaska. The unit identifies and arrests distributors of
controlled substances and alcohol. The unit also provides support and participation
in public education programs. To accomplish this mission there are six ABADE
investigative teams that are spread throughout Alaska.
The Fairbanks ABADE Unit primarily focuses on Interior Alaska, extending north to
Barrow and east to the Canadian border. The team is currently made up of Alaska
State Trooper Sergeant Ron Wall, Alaska State Trooper Investigators Jess Carson and
Jason Pugh, Fairbanks Police Investigator Bruce Barnett and University of Alaska
Investigator Steve Goetze. In recent years the D.E.A. has reestablished their office in
Fairbanks, which is staffed with two Special Agents to assist with case investigations
when requested.
During 2004 the unit focused investigations on cocaine, crack cocaine,
methamphetamine, marijuana-grows and alcohol importation.
In 2004 the ABADE team initiated 373 drug and alcohol cases. In the process they:
� Dismantled 9 methamphetamine labs
� Dismantled 13 marijuana grows.
� Arrested 94 persons on State charges.
� Arrested 9 persons on Federal charges.
� Illegal drugs seized (street value) during
State case investigations:$1,450,134.50
� Illegal drugs seized (street value) during
Federal case investigations: $1,544,721.00
� Total assets seized by forfeiture:
$155,164.17.
The growth and proliferation of Methamphetamine labs continue to plague the
Fairbanks area. Ongoing manufacture, use, and distribution of Methamphetamine
presents a wide range of public safety hazards to both law enforcement and
community members.
Page 26

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
2004 brought a lot of changes to the
Fairbanks Police Department’s Emergency
Communications Center. On June 3,
2004, The North Pole Police Department
closed their own Dispatch Center, and
those dispatch functions were integrated
into the Fairbanks Center. As such, the
Dispatch Center began providing services
for seven new police and fire agencies, in
addition to the agencies we already serve!
The North Pole cut-over went relatively smooth for all agencies. There were
countless hours of procedural preparation, logistical consideration, and training
necessary for both the Dispatchers currently working in Fairbanks and North
Pole, as well as the new employees who had to be hired and trained. The call
volume that we received on a monthly basis immediately reflected this change;
the Dispatch Center received and handled 251,558 phone calls in 2004! Of these
calls, 33,746 were 9-1-1 calls. Our Dispatch Center handled an increase of
37,387 telephone calls in the center in 2004, primarily due to the sharp increase
in the overall number of calls-for-service in the second half of the year. The
Dispatch Center processed 28,777 Police calls, 6,029 Fire and Emergency Medical
Service (EMS) calls, and 599 Air Ambulance calls for the year.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Total Fire
Total Police
Total 911
Total Calls
Percent Increase of Calls
% Increase 2001-2002 % Increase 2002-2003 % Increase 2003-2004
Year
Page 27

North Star VFD
13%
Rural Deltana
0%
Delta Fire
1%
Delta Rescue
3%
Salcha Rescue
1%
NP Ambulance
12%
Number of Calls
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
NPFD
3%
0
Fire Calls 2004
Guardian Flight
9%
Call Break Down
2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
Page 28
911 Calls
Total Police Calls
Total Fire Calls
Fairbanks FD
58%

In 2004 we bid a fond farewell to three of our senior Dispatchers as they retired
from service. We also lost one additional Dispatcher to an out-of-state move. Due
to the increase in both calls-received and agencies dispatched for, minimumstaffing
per-shift was increased from two dispatchers in 2003 to three
Dispatchers after the cut-over. The combination of increased staffing, combined
with training requirements for new employees to replace departing staff, led to a
tremendous amount of overtime for the last half of the year. Our Dispatchers
were required to work 3,983 hours of overtime in 2004 to successfully meet the
needs of the community! The Dispatchers and their families deserve a huge pat
on the back for all of their hard work and job dedication!
Due to the increasing
complexity of this highly
technical position, competent
supervision was identified as
a key component necessary
to maintain effective
operations. To fulfill this
need, 2004 saw the creation
of three Shift Lead
positions- with three of our
Dispatchers being promoted
to fill this supervisory role.
Four new Dispatchers were
hired in 2004, two of which
have nearly completed of
their training. Our other two
new-hires
are anticipated to complete their training by May 2005. The training of
a new Dispatcher takes approximately 20 weeks to complete. The trainee will
rotate
through 4 “phases” and numerous trainers, all of whom have different
areas
of expertise and knowledge.
Phase
1, or the “CRIMES” phase,
consists
of 8 weeks of learning the
C AD (Computer Aided Dispatch),
CRIMES
reporting database,
APSIN
database, alarm monitoring
system,
processing of paperwork,
(both
incoming and outgoing)
learning
proper communications
terminology
and numerical codes
used on the radio, answering the
incoming telephone calls on the
business line, and of course
learning the policies and
procedures of the Fairbanks Police
Page 29

Department. In addition, a comprehensive knowledge of State Statutes and local
ordinances is required, as well as the mastery of numerous other tasks, before
the trainee is ready to progress to the next phase of training.
Phase 2, or the “Main” phase, puts the trainee in the “hot
seat”. The trainee will
take the radio skills learned from phase-one and learn to deploy police officers on
calls for service. They also will learn how to manage and prioritize law
enforcement calls that are pending and are ultimately
responsible for the safety of
all of the officers on duty. Phase-two is four weeks in
length.
Phase 3, or the “Fire” phase, is the final formalized
training-session for the
Dispatcher. The trainee is responsible for
answering all of the 911 calls that come into the
Center. They will then
determine if the call is
going to be handled within our Dispatch Center,
or transferred to another
agency for service. The
trainee will begin dispatching
fire and EMS calls
during this phase. The trainee is responsible for
all radio traffic and unit-tracking in the CAD for
seven fire and EMS
agencies. Phase-three also
lasts approximately four weeks.
Phase 4 is an evaluation and observation period. During Phase 4, the Dispatcher
spends three weeks rotating through all positions learned in the prior three
phases, and then faces a final evaluation. When all four phases are satisfactorily
completed, the trainee is now certified
as an Emergency-Services Dispatcher!
They
are then assigned to a shift, putting their newly-learned skills to use.
re planned for our Dispatch Center in 2005.
nter’s radio system, providing compatibility
Radio (ALMR) project. This is a critical
gency communications during emergencies,
dents where multiple agencies need to talk to
(A major fault that was cited in our Nation’s
rth Star Borough also plans to upgrade the
eduled for completion during the 1st Continued changes and upgrades a
Plans include an upgrade to the Ce
with the State of Alaska’s Land Mobile
project, as it will allow for cross-a
times of crisis, and other critical inci
each other on the same radio system.
post-9-11 review) The Fairbanks No
Enhanced-911 system, which is sch
half of
2005.
Page 30

FPD MEMBER PROFILE:
LEAD DISPATCHER JULIE RITCHIE
Julie Ritchie, one of three Lead Dispatchers for F.P.D., was born in San Diego,
California. Julie moved to Alaska with her family when she was two years old,
growing up and attending school in North Pole. In 1990 Julie went to work for the
University of Alaska’s Security Department in an administrative capacity. This job
eventually led her into the University Dispatch Center, where in 1993 she began
working as an Emergency- Services Dispatcher. In 1999 Julie came to the Fairbanks
Police Department, joining our Dispatch Center. In September of 2004 Julie was
promoted to the position of Lead Dispatcher, where she supervises the other dispatch
personnel assigned to her shift.
Julie is married and has three children. She enjoys snow-machining, boating,
fishing and four-wheeling in the great Alaska outdoors. Julie is also an avid quilter,
and serves as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts. Her favorite book is The Five People
you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.
Julie likes the challenge of Emergency Communications, “never knowing what is
going to happen the next time the phone rings.” Julie states that the down-side of
the job is “that knot in the pit of your stomach when officers are involved in high-risk
calls, like an officer-involved shooting, when you don’t know what is happening and
whether the officers are safe.”
In August of 2004, Julie displayed her
calm professionalism and willingness
to go “above-and-beyond the call of
duty.” Julie received a 911 call on a
cell phone from a hunter who had
been mauled by a grizzly bear in a
remote area South of Fairbanks.
When the injured man was unable to
describe his exact location, Julie spent
the next four hours alternating
between talking with the injured man
on the phone, and contacting friends
and relatives in an attempt to find
someone who knew the hunter’s
planned whereabouts. In the
meantime, a U.S. Army MAST
Dispatcher Ritchie and injured hunter Jim Johnson helicopter launched a Medivac
mission, searching for the injured
hunter. The search was delayed due to dense smoke from area forest fires. As Julie
spoke with the injured hunter over his cell phone, she could hear the helicopter in
the background as it flew back-and-forth over the area in its search. Julie continued
to reassure the injured man that help was on the way throughout the ordeal. The
MAST crew eventually spotted the hunter’s camp from the air; Julie and her fellow
Dispatchers gave a collective sigh of relief when they finally heard the MAST
helicopter land nearby! The injured hunter was transported to Fairbanks Memorial
Hospital for treatment, and Julie immediately returned to fielding the never-ending
stream of incoming “routine” and emergency calls for service.
Page 31

EVIDENCE
The Evidence Unit is manned
solely by Evidence Custodian
Tyler Mowrey. In 2004, Mr.
Mowrey handled 2376 cases,
logging-in a total of 5289
physical items of evidence. This
represents a 19% increase in the
number of cases handled as
compared to 2003.
Upon completion of a case, a
letter is sent to the owner
regarding any recovered
property collected in evidence.
These are sent by returnreceipt
mail service, and advise
the owner that they have 30 days from the date of the letter’s receipt to collect the
item. If the item is not collected, it will either be destroyed, or put into the City’s
inventory for auction. In 2004 Evidence Custodian Mowrey returned 499 items of
property to their rightful owners. 284 items were retained for City Auction, and
are scheduled for sale in 2005.
Quarterly Evidence-Room audits were once again conducted in 2004, with
additional monthly “spot-audits” being conducted by on-duty Watch Commanders.
There were no errors found in 2004 in the particularly critical areas of cash,
drugs, or firearms. Any minor errors discovered in property cases were found to
be recording-errors (i.e. transposition of digits on a case number) and were
immediately corrected.
Through his advanced training, as well performance-based reviews regarding his
exceptional organizational skills and records-keeping, Mr. Mowrey has attained the
title of “Certified Property and Evidence Specialist,” one of only two in the entire
State of Alaska!
Counterfeit bill recovered
from a printer.
Page 32
Typical “street” drug
packaging.

TACTICAL POLICE TEAM
The Tactical Police Team (TPT) is a highly
skilled, dedicated, and professional group
of men and women trained to provide
intervention during those incidents that
exceed the standard capabilities of the
patrol division. Such missions include:
barricaded subjects, hostage negotiations,
counter-sniper operations, high- risk
apprehension, high-risk warrant service,
personal protection and other special
assignments.
The TPT conducted several operational
missions in 2004 and participated in some
outstanding training exercises. The two
operational missions consisted of a highrisk
apprehension and warrant service; the
other involved a joint operation with Alaska State Troopers (AST) Special
Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) to locate and arrest several armed suspects.
shooter” event. Utilizing the Army’s
state-of-the-art Military Operations
in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training
facility at Fort Wainwright, officers
responded to a simulated event in a
school-styled building, engaging
armed suspects using Simunition
training weapons. During the final
scenario, patrol officers provided the
initial response to shots fired at a
“hotel” and after encountering armed
resistance, notified the TPT.
In October of 2004 the TPT conducted a
weeklong train-up and exercise,
culminating in a full-day response to a
simulated terrorist-initiated event
involving a large-scale hostage situation
with an involved Weapon of Mass
Destruction (WMD).
During the week, the Department’s
patrol officers were trained and tested
on tactics for responding to an “active-
Page 33

The team responded, with support from the AST SERT, established
containment, and initiated negotiations. The team successfully negotiated for
the release of all hostages and thwarted the threat of a “dirty- bomb”
detonation to conclude the exercise.
In addition, a variety of
individual and team
equipment was procured
through the 2004
Department of Homeland
Security(DHS) Law
Enforcement Terrorism
Prevention Program
(LETPP). This equipment
included such items as
night vision devices,
thermal imagers, tactical
ballistic body armor, a
tactical ballistic blanket,
and much more.
The TPT added some more new
technology to its inventory, further
enhancing its capabilities. In 2004,
the Team placed its new command
van into service. The vehicle was
purchased and outfitted through
funding from a Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant and a
Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS) Technology Grant. It provides
the team with a modern, reliable
response vehicle to deploy the entire
team and all individual and team
equipment to the scene of a tactical
incident.
The TPT is comprised of specially trained personnel performing duties as Entry
Team, Marksman, Tactical Dispatch, Hostage Negotiation and Tactical
Emergency Medical Services (TEMS). Membership on the TPT is voluntary, and
consists of Officers and Dispatchers from within the Department who apply
through a competitive testing and evaluation process. The one exception is our
integrated TEMS unit, which is staffed by a local doctor and two paramedics
who are fully trained in emergency medicine and operational tactics.
Page 34

K-9 UNIT
The Fairbanks Police Department’s K-9 unit continues to
operate smoothly. Officer Lowe and K-9 Keva, along with
Officer Foster and K-9 Baron, are the Department’s two K-9
teams. The Alaska State Troopers, North Pole Police, and
UAF Police all have K-9 teams; F.P.D. works with these other
agencies to insure that there is always a K-9 available for
duty. All of our local agencies work
with a positive spirit of cooperation, “loaning out” their onduty
teams for immediate use. Officers Foster and Lowe are
both frequently called to assist other agencies. In 2004 Dr.
James Beckley of the Fairbanks Veterinary Hospital
continued to offer his services at no cost to our Department.
We owe him special thanks for his contribution to the
Department and our community!
Keva’s primary mission is drug detection As both law
enforcement and criminal behavior continue to
progress, methods of concealment for illegal drugs
continue to become more innovative and harder to
detect. Our K-9 team has the ability to sniff-out and
discover drugs in those places that might normally be
missed during a routine patrol contact or search.
Baron’s primary mission is that of a “tracking dog,”
used in the search and apprehension of criminal suspects. These abilities can also
be used to locate non-criminals, such as citizens who have become lost or may be in
need of assistance. Officer Foster’s assignment to our Tactical Police Team assures
that Baron is always available for the team’s operations.
A continuing theme for 2004 has been the K-9 team’s
popularity with the public, especially children. As
our Department cannot currently fund a position
which places Officers in direct contact with our
youth, such as a DARE program, the K-9 program
provides a positive link to the Children in our
community. Events such as the Kid’s Fest and Mush
for Kids expose our K-9 teams to the youth of our
community, always producing a positive result!
2004 saw the creation of the Interior Police K-9 fund. While the program is not run by
the Fairbanks Police Department, our K-9 officers spent much of their own time
getting the program started and keeping it running. The program was created and
conceived by Laura LeMieux. Ms. LeMieux graciously contributed her time and
expertise in an effort to raise money so that all police K-9s could receive additional
equipment, such as special bullet-proof vests.
Page 35

DEPARTMENT FLEET
The Fairbanks Police Department maintains a fleet of vehicles which includes
marked patrol vehicles, unmarked investigations vehicles, summer-use
motorcycles, and two command vans which are used by our Tactical Team and
Investigations Unit.
Our fleet was upgraded in 2004 with the purchase of one new Ford Crown
Victoria patrol sedan, and Two Ford Expeditions. The Expeditions were an
exceptionally welcome addition, as they are the first four-wheel-drive equipped
patrol vehicles in the history of our Department! The purchase of five new Ford
Crown Victoria Police Interceptors in 2005, as allocated in our capital
appropriations budge, will enable the Department to remove (and sell at
auction) several of the older 1993 Ford Police vehicles that are still in use.
The two vans that were recently added to the inventory are special purpose
vehicles that were acquired and outfitted at a cost of just over $250,000.00, all
of which was funded from two federal grant programs: The Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant and the Community Oriented Policing Services
Technology Grant, through the Department of Justice.
The vans give our Department the ability to deploy command, control, and
communications capabilities to the scene of any incident, serving as a “mobile
command center.” The vehicles also provide for the ability of rapid deployment
of the department’s Tactical Police Team and their equipment.
Page 36

FAIRBANKS SNOWMOBILE SAFETY AND
EDUCATION PROGRAM
During the 2004 snowmobile season, the Fairbanks Police
Department continued its efforts to promote snowmobile safety in our community
through partnerships with local businesses and snowmobile organizations.
Fairbanks Snowmobile Safety Program -
Provided safety equipment, which included
helmets, goggles, first aid kits, avalanche
beacons and probes, flashlights, backpacks,
during the above-mentioned opportunities. A
number of these items were donated by local
organizations and businesses.
Officer Jeromey Lindhag, along with volunteers,
continued to provide snowmobile safety
education to local schools, the Boy Scouts of
America and the community through events
including Kids Fest, The Open North American,
Mush for Kids, and the Snowmobile Rondy,
among others. The program also focuses
attention to enforcement of all snowmobile laws
in the City of Fairbanks. During the spring
riding season Officer Lindhag is actively
pursuing riders that do not obey the snowmobile
riding and registration laws.
Snowmobile Safety Class - The rider
education classes address safety, equipment,
laws, environmental issues, pre-season and pre-trip inspections, unexpected
hazards, avalanche awareness and rider responsibility. The “Fatal Vision Goggles”,
which distorts a person’s vision, were used to simulate the effects of alcohol and the
varying degrees of intoxication.
Mini Sleds - In partnership with our local youth
snowmobile racing organization, we provided our mini
sleds to be used during their race events. This allowed
children who have never owned or driven a snowmobile
before, the opportunity to participate in a sanctioned
snowmobile event. At the end of each event, children were
awarded a medal for their participation.
Our mini sleds were also used during the Snowmobile
Rondy for a youth Snowmobile Rodeo. These events allow
participants to ride snowmobiles to different “Safety
Stations” and are designed to test their skills operating a
snowmobile under the guise of having fun.
Page 37

Director Paul Harris congratulates Fairbanks’ first Police Corps Graduate- Officer Andrew Adams
The Police Corps is a federally-funded program designed to recruit four-year
college graduates into law enforcement. The Police Corps conducts an
intensive, advanced residential police academy, and places the graduating
recruits into service with sponsoring law enforcement agencies. In addition to
basic police training, Police Corps recruits receive additional training in
leadership, ethics, problem-solving, and the importance of the U.S.
Constitution and Bill of Rights.
2004 was an exceptional year for both the Police Corps program and the City of
Fairbanks. In February of 2004 the Fairbanks Police Department received our
first trained Police Corps graduate- Officer Andrew Adams. Spring recruitment
and summer selection sent an additional five recruits to the Academy in
September of 2004, two of which were sponsored for future employment by the
Fairbanks Police Department. Recruits Allen Brandt and Scott Richey will be
attending the Police Corps “Session Six” Academy, and are projected to
graduate in February of 2005.
Police Corps Administrative Assistant Teri Vigesaa, while fully-funded through the Federal program
budget, provides significant in-kind assistance to both the City Attorney’s and Finance Office.
Page 38

VOLUNTEERS IN POLICING
Volunteers In Policing is a non-profit that
was established in 1994. There are currently 20 active
volunteers with two paid staff members. The VIP’s provide
assistance to local law enforcement through observations,
traffic control, motorist assistance, placement of speed
trailers, and assistance with missing children searches, DUI
detection, security checks, and special events such as the
North American Dog Race.
Volunteers In Policing also offers Fingerprinting Services as a fund raiser
to their organization. The services are currently available one night a
week. There are four certified finger printers. Volunteers receive 26 hours
of academy and field training at the VIP Training Academy.
The VIP’s provide safety presentations to the
community by request. Some subjects covered
have been stranger danger, teen driving and alcohol, home
protection, and bike safety. Community organizations
contact VIP with there request and when possible the VIP’s
assist those organizations as a help to the community.
During the summer the VIP’s assist with Concerts In the
Park, Golden Days, the Midnight Sun Festival, and other summer activities. They also
provide a bike and foot patrol in the downtown area. All bike patrollers have received
training through a bike patrol certification course offered through UAF Police
Department.
The VIP’s spent 2004 focusing on increasing the support to the Fairbanks Police
Department. To accomplish this, the VIP’s maintained their office inside the Fairbanks
Police Department. This location made it easier for the VIP’s to serve both the
Fairbanks Police Department and the Fairbanks community.
VIP’s launched a recruitment campaign and
increased the volunteer membership during 2004
and began planning for greater recruitment efforts
in 2005.
The VIP program underwent a staff change when
Executive Director Doris Lundin and Program Coordinator Poppy Floto left the
program. VIP’s new Executive Director is Kevin E. Kemp who brings to the program
seventeen years experience as a police officer in Alaska and the new Program
Coordinator is Contrinka Holland.
The VIP’s had 1043.70 hours of general patrol and Alaska Housing patrol hours, 190.5
FPD Assists, 48.6 hours of alcohol or DUI activities, 180 hours of fingerprinting
services, and 624.2 hours in special event and tourist assistance.
Page 39

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
On November 17, 2003, the Fairbanks City Council passed and approved
Ordinance 5553 creating the Fairbanks Public Safety Commission. The
Commission was established to advise the Mayor and the City Council on
important issues that our police, fire and emergency medical staff provide.
There are seven members of the PSC. Five voting members include
representatives from the following: (1) member of the City Council, (1)
member with current or past experience in law enforcement or criminal law,
(1) member with experience in fire suppression, prevention, or emergency
medical services, (1) member with experience in management, logistics or
operations, and (1) at-large public member. Two non voting members
include: (1) current Fire Department employee, chosen by the employees
and (1) current Police Department employee, chosen by the employees.
Fairbanks Police Department Intern Willow Seay was
responsible for coordinating the schedules, agenda and
minutes for the first few meetings of the Commission. The
PSC held it’s first meeting on August 3 rd to establish the Rules
of Conduct, select the Commission Chair, and general
business.
The term of the commission member shall be appointed for a period of three
years. Current members of the Commission are:
Peter Stern, Frank Eagle, Annette Freiburger, Commission Chair, Harry
Davis, Dan Hoffman, FPD Deputy Chief. Commission members not
pictured: Howard Thies, Scott Learned, Fire Department Representative
and Doug Whorton, Police Department Representative
Page 40

Total Number of
Convictions
Total Number of
Arrests
Total Number of
Calls
2004 STATISTICS
MAJOR CRIMES
Homicide
Sexual
Assaults
54 Robbery
2 45 Aggrevated
Assaults
Vehicle Theft
153
152
Theft
1133
Burglary
230
DOMESTIC ASSAULTS
188
321
Other
Assaults
1394
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Page 41
954

# OF CITATIONS
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
DW SOL
217
January
REFUSAL
53
357
February
207 253
March
2004 STATISTICS
DWI
TRAFFIC CITATIONS
April
146
269 231 201
May
June
MONTH
Page 42
July
August
288
September
381
October
DW I
308
245 215 250
November
December

2004 STATISTICS
ALL CALLS FOR SERVICE
Fire and EMS
6,027
PROPERTY
1394
Non
Emergency
182,409
Air Ambulance
599
CALLS FOR POLICE SERVICE
MAJOR CATEGORIES
(TOTAL FOR 2004 IS 28,777)
VIOLENT
165
Page 43
Police
28,777
TRAFFIC
2485
E-911
33,746

2004 STATISTICS
MAJOR CALLS FOR SERVICE:
TRAFFIC RELATED
Hit and Run
284
Traffic
Complaint
632
MVA-Damage
964
DWI
605
MAJOR CALLS FOR SERVICE:
PROPERTY
Burglary
214
Robbery: Strong Arm
22
Auto Theft
133
Arson
14
Theft
1033
MAJOR CALLS FOR SERVICE
VIOLENT
Robbery: Armed
20
Sexual Assault
64
Page 44
Murder
2
Assault w/ Deadly Weapon
57

USE OF FORCE
Hands On
32
2004 STATISTICS
Use of Force
56
Total
Incidents
1838
BREAKDOWN OF THE 56
"USE OF FORCE" INCIDENTS
ASP
1
Taser
21
Pepper Spray
2
Page 45
Total
Incidents
Use of Force
Taser
Pepper Spray
ASP
Hands On

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
On June 24, 2004 the Fairbanks Police
Department immediately responded and
began an investigation when a mother
called stating that her five year-old child
had been playing outside and was now
missing. Police contacted nine year-old
Gunnar Buckley in the area. Gunnar
recounted seeing a man in a pickup truck,
which he described with great detail, pick
up the missing child. Gunnar described
the driver and recognized him as a local
resident.
The incident, which was a result of
miscommunication, was quickly resolved
and the missing child was returned home
safely after approximately thirty minutes. The information Gunnar
provided was instrumental in quickly resolving a potentially serious
incident, preventing extended emotional distress for the missing child’s
mother, and saved the City of Fairbanks considerable man-hours that
would have been used to investigate and resolve this situation.
Gunnar Buckley was presented with the Fairbanks Police Department’s
Citizen Service Medal. The citizens of the City of Fairbanks should be
proud of young Gunnar, whose assistance was invaluable.
****************
On December 23, 2004, at 0311 hours, Fairbanks Airport Police Officers
Nick Zito and Cassandra Champagne attempted to stop a 1994 Mazda
pickup truck for a defective tail light. Williamson did not stop, and
officers pursued the driver down the Johansen Expressway.
Fairbanks Police Department Sergeant James Geier responded to assist
the Airport Officers. The pursuit, which was conducted in a cautious
and moderate manner, proceeded North on the Steese Highway and
eventually onto the Old Steese, where following Officers elected to
terminate the pursuit. Shortly thereafter, the Mazda truck was located
by Officers stuck in the snow near the intersection of Rohloff Street and
Swan Lane. The driver had fled the vehicle, and Officers began looking
for him.
Page 46

Officer Nick Zito-Airport Police
While checking the area, the driver opened fire on
Sgt Geier with a 9mm handgun. Sgt. Geier was
struck three times, taking bullets to the chest,
gun belt and leg. Officer Zito, who could see
where the shots were coming from, returned fire.
The suspect, later identified as George Riley
Williamson, was struck in the chest. Officers
attempted to revive Williamson; an ambulance
crew from the University Fire Department
responded and pronounced him dead on scene.
Williamson was later discovered to have both
felony drug and weapon convictions in Minnesota.
Sgt Geier, who sustained a serious bullet wound to his right leg, was
transported to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, and is expected to make
a full recovery.
Officer Zito acted calmly and courageously during the most serious
situation a police officer can ever encounter. Thanks to Officer Zito, the
confrontation was quickly brought to an end, and Sergeant Geier was
able to receive immediate medical attention. The citizens of both the City
of Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough should be proud to
have Officer Zito serving our community!
****************
Chaplain Phil McBroom volunteers his time to the
members of the Fairbanks Police Department. He
provides spiritual guidance and counseling for any
member, family member or victim that might be in
need. He assists in time of personal loss, illness or
death and is available to respond to police or other
emergency situations to assist civilians.
Chaplain McBroom participated with other FPD
employees in observing Police Memorial Day on
May 15th and the dedication of the Law
Enforcement Memorial on September 6 th .
He continues to be a vital part of the Fairbanks Police Department.
The Fairbanks Police Department would like to thank all those involved
whose input and contributions made this 2004 Annual Report possible.
Page 47

The Volunteers In Police sponsored a coloring contest asking local Second
Grade students “What the Police mean to me.”
The Grand Prize winner’s picture serves as the back cover for the Fairbanks
Police Department’s 2004 Annual Report. In addition to this honor, the
Grand Prize Winner received the following:
� Certificate presented at school by the Police Chief and a VIP
Officer
� Picture and name in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner
� VIP Bike Patrol shirt with FPD and VIP patches
� Tour of the Police Station with parents
� Gift Certificate from Food Factory
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
MIRANDA ATKINSON-Denali Elementary-Mrs. Dunehew’s Class
One first place winner was chosen from each participating school. Those
students received:
� Their names published in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner
� Receive an award certificate
� Tour of the Police Station with parents
� Gift Certificate from Food Factory
FIRST PLACE WINNER’S
Annalee Tidwell-Denali Elementary-Mrs. Dunehew’s Class
Kayla Steffey-Ladd Elementary-Mrs. Kakaruk’s Class
Hannah Pierce-Joy Elementary-Mrs. Hinzman’s Class
Bryce Dominguez-Chinook Charter School-Mr. Fentes’ Class
Congratulations to all of our winners,
and
Thank You to all of the students that submitted a picture!