Interior Alaska honors fallen officers in North Pole ceremony

NORTH POLE, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - To recognize Police Memorial Day, members of the Interior Alaska community gathered for a ceremony at Trooper Gabriel Rich and Trooper Scott Johnson Memorial Park in North Pole on Thursday, during which they paid tribute to the 72 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty in Alaska.

After the presentation of colors, community member Eve Baker sang the Star Spangled Banner to open the ceremony.

Featured speakers included Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins, who read a proclamation on behalf of the three area mayors, and former City of Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly, who spoke on behalf of Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The names of each fallen officer were read out to the assembled crowd. A wreath honoring fallen peace officers was laid, and later, the Fort Wainwright Police Department delivered a 21-gun salute.

Community member Erin Janoso played taps on the trumpet, followed by Fairbanks Police Department Capt. Nate Werner playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

After the ceremony, Acting Patrol Supervisor Max Becker, who is with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Police Department, explained the significance the event holds for him, saying he attended high school with Alaska State Trooper Gabe Rich, who was killed in the line of duty in 2014.

“Since that time, this ceremony has held even more significance for me,” Becker said, “and it’s important for me to come out and honor the sacrifice that they made and do everything that we can to continue to emulate the example that they set for us.”

Working in law enforcement for 14 years, Becker said he was on patrol duty in October 2016 when Fairbanks Police Department Sgt. Allen Brandt called for assistance over the radio after being shot.

Brandt ultimately died from his injuries after being shot in the line of duty.

“Attending all three of those funerals has really led me to realize the sacrifice that is experienced by those losses, by the community, most by the families, but also by the entire Fairbanks community,” he added. “And so, it’s important to me that I come out and honor the sacrifice that those individuals made.”

According to the North Pole Police Department, the commemoration was first established when President John F. Kennedy signed a 1962 proclamation signifying May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.

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