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About Alaska
The vast majority of U.S. law enforcement agencies (nearly 19,000 in 1996), employ fewer than ten officers. Three out of every eight agencies employ fewer than five officers, while 18% of U.S. law enforcement agencies employ one or fewer full time officers.
Alaska’s figures are much more alarming: Over 75% of all law enforcement agencies have fewer that 5 officers. Nearly 60% of agencies have only one sworn officer.1 Most of these one-officer agencies are in rural Alaska, including a number of Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO).
Small police agencies, historically, have significant problems in obtaining equipment and training for their officers. Due to limited funding, and the isolation of their rural environment, technology often eludes these agencies.
NLECTC-Northwest wants to put needed, affordable, and workable technology into the hands of front-line law enforcement and corrections officers so they can do a better job of protecting our citizens. If you have any questions, please contact NLECTC-Northwest.
About Alaska’s Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Program
1Law Enforcement Agencies in Alaska,
Summary of Manpower Allocation
Agencies with
Sworn Staff Between: |
# of Agencies |
% of Agencies |
Cumulative % |
| 100
|
or more
|
2
|
1.54%
|
100.00%
|
1.54%
|
| 50
|
99
|
2
|
1.54%
|
98.46%
|
3.08%
|
| 10
|
49
|
18
|
13.85%
|
96.92%
|
16.92%
|
| 5
|
9
|
10
|
7.69%
|
83.08%
|
24.62%
|
| 2
|
4
|
23
|
17.69%
|
75.38%
|
42.31%
|
| 1
|
or less
|
75
|
57.69%
|
57.69%
|
100.00%
|
| Total
|
|
130
|
|
|
|
Source: Alaska Police Standards Council List, July 27, 2001, and Alaska Department of Public Safety VPSO List, September 1, 2001
Includes Village Public Safety Officers
Excludes non-sworn Village Police Officers
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