[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5819-5820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 464--COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALASKA 
                             STATE TROOPERS

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. Sullivan) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 464

       Whereas the 15th Alaska Territorial Legislature established 
     the Territory of Alaska Highway Patrol in 1941 for the 
     purpose of enforcing traffic codes in the Territory of 
     Alaska;
       Whereas the jurisdiction of the Alaska Highway Patrol was 
     expanded in 1945 in response to the need for a full spectrum 
     police agency in the Territory of Alaska to address crimes 
     outside the jurisdiction of local police departments;
       Whereas the Alaska Territorial Legislature created the 
     Alaska Territorial Police in 1953, which became the Alaska 
     State Police on the admission of Alaska to statehood;
       Whereas the Alaska State Police was renamed the Alaska 
     State Troopers in 1967;
       Whereas, in 1972, Governor of Alaska Bill Egan assigned 
     responsibility and authority for the protection of the fish 
     and wildlife resources of Alaska to the Department of Public 
     Safety, leading to the formation of the Alaska Wildlife 
     Troopers, which is part of the Alaska State Troopers;
       Whereas Alaska is \1/5\ the size of the contiguous 48 
     States, consisting of--
       (1) 586,412 square miles of diverse terrain;
       (2) more than 3,000 rivers;
       (3) approximately 34,000 miles of coastline; and
       (4) over 200 communities, many of which are not connected 
     to each other by a road;
       Whereas the daily responses to requests for law enforcement 
     assistance presents unique challenges in Alaska seldom 
     experienced in other States;

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       Whereas through the use of airplanes, boats, snowmachines, 
     helicopters, and all-terrain vehicles, the Alaska State 
     Troopers are able to respond across vast areas of the Alaska 
     wilderness, battling the extremes of climate and terrain, to 
     ensure that each Alaskan receives an answer to a call for 
     help;
       Whereas from the urban centers of Anchorage and Fairbanks 
     to the small, isolated villages on the vast river systems in 
     Alaska, the challenges of ensuring an effective law 
     enforcement presence in Alaska are unequaled anywhere in the 
     world;
       Whereas the Alaska State Troopers partners with tribal 
     organizations throughout Alaska to sponsor the Village Public 
     Safety Officer program, which provides law enforcement, fire 
     suppression, emergency medical, and search and rescue 
     services to remote Alaska Native villages throughout the 
     State of Alaska;
       Whereas the motto of the Alaska State Troopers is 
     ``Loyalty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion, Leadership, and 
     Accountability'';
       Whereas the approximately 390 commissioned officers and 147 
     civilian personnel of the Alaska State Troopers have met the 
     challenge of policing Alaska through their dedication, 
     professionalism, and innovation; and
       Whereas 16 members of the Alaska State Troopers and 
     predecessor agencies of the Alaska State Troopers and 2 
     Village Public Safety Officers have given their lives in the 
     line of duty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Alaska State Troopers on its 75th 
     anniversary; and
       (2) expresses appreciation to the commissioned officers and 
     civilian personnel of the Alaska State Troopers and to the 
     Village Public Safety Officers, who are the ``first 
     responders of the last frontier'', and to their families, for 
     their service and sacrifice.

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