AACOP - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

Job Titles:

• Chief
• Vice President
• Vice President of the Board of Directors

Chief Ed Mercer has been with the Juneau Police Department since August 2000. He started his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Sitka Police Department prior to joining JPD. He has promoted through the ranks from Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Police of Chief before accepting the Chief's position in July 2017. Chief Mercer holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Herzing University in Madison, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He serves on the board for the Alaska Association of Chief of Police's and the FBI CJIS Northwest Group. Chief Mercer is a life-long Alaskan who grew up in Southeast Alaska. He enjoys the beauty and outdoors the state has to offer.

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Secretary of the Board of Directors
• Life Member of APOA

Gregory A. Russell began his law enforcement career in 1981, working as an undercover drug enforcement officer for the Alaska State Troopers. In August 1982, he began working for the Soldotna Police Department. Career highlights include supervising Patrol, Investigations, Property and Evidence, Administration, Computer Systems Administration at the Soldotna Police Department, attending the 180th Session of the FBI National Academy, and serving as the Chief of Police for the City of Kotzebue. After retiring in 2002, he established a consulting/training company that specializes in high-tech management expertise offered to all Alaskan public safety entities. Greg is a frequent conference speaker, a trainer, an investigator, and has been AMLJIA's Law Enforcement Practices Consultant since 2003. Greg is a life member of APOA (Alaska Peace Officers Association), an active member of the FBI National Academy Associates, a life member of the Alaska Chiefs of Police Association and a current board member, and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a certified Police Instructor, an Instructor Trainer, and held an Advanced Certificate with the Alaska Police Standards Council. He was a Program Manager for the Alaska Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Commission, a Traveling Trainer for the Alaska Police Standards Council, and in 2018 served as an Interim Chief of Police for the cities of Kotzebue and Whittier. He is a past president of the Peninsula Crime Stoppers Board in Soldotna.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors
• Executive Director / Chief for the University of Alaska Anchorage ( UAA ) Police Department

Mark "Jeff" Earle is the Executive Director/Chief for the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Police Department. With over 30 years' experience in higher education and most of those years as a sworn officer, he is a seasoned law enforcement professional at both public and private higher educational institutions in multiple states. Jeff has a proven history of progressively responsible leadership at the executive level and proficient with management of all police divisions, investigations, security, access control, traffic, and communications. Jeff is experienced in community outreach and policing. Jeff is well versed in special event planning for students, foreign guests, dignitaries, and the public across campuses. While in Texas, he obtained a master peace officer certification and a state-certified special investigator in sexual assault and family violence. Most recently, he received advanced certification from the Alaska Police Standards Council.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

RJ Ely began his law enforcement career in 1991, working for the Hoonah Police Department and attending the Alaska Public Safety Academy in Sitka, graduating in December 1991. RJ left Southeast Alaska, 1992 and worked out in the Aleutians for several years; St. Paul Island Police Department and King Cove Department. RJ served as a Lieutenant in Bethel and then ended up in Skagway for five years. After Skagway, RJ ended up on POW (Prince of Wales Island), worked for a short time with Klawock Police Department, before moving to Craig Police Department. While with Craig, served as an officer, Sergeant and for the last 11 years as Chief. RJ holds an Advanced Police Officer Certificate through the Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC). RJ is a current longtime member of APOA (Alaska Peace Officers Association), sits on SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) for POW, DataMaster Supervisor, Range Master, SEACAD, holds Special Commission through DPS and much more. RJ attended University of Alaska Southeast.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors

Job Titles:

• Deputy Chief
• Member of the Board of Directors

Deputy Chief Sean Case has been in law enforcement for over 20 years, starting his career with the Los Angeles Police Department. While serving with the Anchorage Police Department, he has held various roles, including SWAT operator, K9 handler, School Resource Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Internal Affairs Investigator and Commander, Patrol Shift Commander, Captain of the Patrol, Inspection, and Administration Divisions. Deputy Chief Case has a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana State University, a master's degree in the Psychology of Leadership from Pennsylvania State University, and a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He conducts national training on critical issues, including use of force and force investigations, internal affairs operations, and documenting and evaluating training. Deputy Chief Case has worked with multiple police departments to develop effective and impartial police policies. Deputy Chief Case is a board member of a non-profit victims advocate group.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors

Major Steven Adams is a 27-year veteran of the Alaska Department of Public Safety. He is currently assigned as Deputy Director of the Division of Alaska Wildlife Troopers and, in this capacity, oversees a division of 89 commissioned and 62 non-commissioned personnel. Major Adams is an energetic, collaborative leader with a well-rounded experience base and is highly dedicated to his people and the Alaskans he serves. His career began in Palmer after graduating from State Trooper Recruit Class 42 in December 1993; he served in patrol as a Field Training Officer, an Investigator in the General Investigations Unit, and a Narcotics Investigator. Once promoted to Sergeant, he supervised various units, including patrol units, the Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team, the Alaska Interdiction Task Force, the DUI Enforcement Team, and the Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol. As a Lieutenant, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol, Deputy Commander of "B" Detachment, Statewide Search and Rescue Coordinator, and Deputy Commander of the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit, where he worked on Alaska's opioid epidemic and bringing the Alaska High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program online until his promotion to Major in March 2020. Major Adams was a Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) member for more than eight years. Major Adams holds an Advanced Police Officer and Police Instructor certification through the Alaska Police Standards Council. Major Adams is a proud graduate of the 129 th Southern Police Institute's Administrative Officers Course at the University of Louisville, where he was named a Dean's Scholar. Major Adams is a graduate of the National Emergency Management Academy and is recognized as a Continuity of Operations Professional Continuity Practitioner.

Job Titles:

• President
• President of the Board of Directors

Steve Dutra and has been the Police Chief for the North Pole Police Department for almost 10 years. He has been with the North Pole Police Department for over 23 years and during this period he has held the positions of Patrol Officer, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. He also spent 3 years with the Yakutat Department of Public Safety as Borough Police Officer. In 2007, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Communications from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is actively involved with the North Pole Community in many ways some of these activities include the Guys Read Program, Coffee with a Cop, Cocoa with the Kids, and leading the drive to bring ALICE to our schools and community. Since being appointed to the board of directors for AACOP in 2015, he has been actively involved in a wide variety of issues facing law enforcement within the State of Alaska. In 2018 he was appointed to the position of Secretary. In 2020 he was voted in as President. In 2018, he was also appointed to the Alaska Police Standards Board of Directors where he currently serves.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer
• Treasurer of the Board of Directors
• Chief of Police

Timothy Putney is the Chief of Police in Kodiak, AK. He began his career with the Kodiak Police Department in January 2003. He has served in various positions, including a corrections officer, patrol officer, field training officer, detective, detective sergeant, and lieutenant. Chief Putney holds an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and graduated from the FBI National Academy session 273. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA).