2/11/21 - Fairbanks Police Chief Selection

Press Release
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Fairbanks Police Chief Selection
 
DATE: February 11, 2021
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Teal Soden, Communications Director, 907-459-6793, tsoden@fairbanks.us

The City of Fairbanks is happy to announce that Mayor Matherly has selected local candidate, Ron Dupee, as the new Police Chief for the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD)!

A public forum was hosted on February 9th in which five final candidates for the Chief position were able to introduce themselves to the community and answer several questions provided by the Fairbanks Diversity Council. After the forum, the interview panel deliberated and, after taking all interviews, qualifications, and candidate information into consideration, provided two recommendations for Mayor Matherly. They put forward both the names of FPD Acting Deputy Chief Ron Dupee and FPD Acting Chief Richard Sweet. Not only did these two candidates have exceptional qualifications, they also demonstrated remarkable teamwork and dedication in leading Fairbanks Police Department since the former Chief left in August of 2020. While the Mayor ultimately selected Dupee, he is confident that FPD and the community will continue to benefit from this highly effective team. 

Dupee was born and raised in Fairbanks and is currently raising his three sons here with his wife, Dawniel. After beginning his law enforcement career in 2000, Dupee served with the Alaska State Trooper Wildlife Division and the Unalaska Department of Public Safety before moving his family back to Fairbanks to work with FPD in 2005. Over the last 16 years with FPD, Dupee has risen through the ranks from Officer to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and most recently, Acting Deputy Chief. In the Spring of 2020, he graduated from the highly sought-after training program for law enforcement executives, the FBI National Academy. The Mayor is highly confident that Dupee’s experience and dedication will greatly benefit FPD and the Fairbanks community.

Thank you to all those that participated in the hiring process and to the Fairbanks Diversity Council for hosting the public forum.  Thank you also to the Fairbanks community as a whole and the Fairbanks Police Department employees for your patience as Mayor Matherly proceeded through this months-long process of selecting the new Chief of Police. 
 
Mayor Matherly’s selection will be on the agenda for City Council confirmation at the February 22nd City Council Meeting. 

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