Anchorage Police Department Chief Tolley Announces Retirement, Current APD Captain Doll Designated as Next Police Chief

Mayor's Corner

4/24/2017

ANCHORAGE – Today, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announced Anchorage Police Department Chief Chris Tolley’s retirement and selected APD Captain Justin Doll as Anchorage’s new Chief of Police.  

“Chris Tolley has lead the way rebuilding APD. I thank him and his family for strengthening Anchorage. Captain Doll’s knowledge of the department and city will lead a rebuilt APD to a higher level of service,” stated Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.  

Chief Designee Doll has been with APD since 1996, and has served in a variety of rolls including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Academy Instructor, Motorcycle Officer, Traffic Unit Supervisor, SWAT Team Member, Bomb Technician, Patrol Shift Commander, and Commander of the Homicide and Robbery/Assault Detective Units. Before assuming his current responsibilities as Crime Suppression Division Commander he was the Administration Division Commander and responsible for the 911 Dispatch Center, the Police Academy and Recruiting, and all of the administrative functions at APD. 

“It will be an honor to lead the department I have spent 20 years serving,” said Chief Designee Doll. “I want to thank Chief Tolley for his leadership – APD is on a path to success, and I hope to continue and expand upon that work.”  

“I am so proud of the strides we have made as a community and a department over the past two years,” said Chief Tolley. “I want to thank the officers, non-sworn staff, and their families who sacrifice every day in their commitment to serve Anchorage – the department is poised for great things.” 

Under Chief Tolley’s leadership, APD prioritized rebuilding sworn officer capacity, with a refocusing on recruitment that enabled the successful completion of multiple full APD academies.  An increase in sworn officer capacity has allowed APD to address deficiencies in unobligated time and support community policing engagement.  Foot patrols were reconstituted in Mountain View, Fairview, Spenard, and Downtown and a social service liaison was embedded with the Community Action Policing team to better deliver services to those experiencing homelessness or mental health issues.  Staffing under Chief Tolley’s tenure increased from 361 to 410 sworn officers.  

Chief Tolley will help transition Chief Designee Doll up to the June 30 change-of-command ceremony.  

For more information, please contact Nora Morse at (907) 565-9836.    

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