PUBLIC SAFETY

In this episode of "Island Interviews," Aviva Braun, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, and Barrett Salisbury, a geologist with the Alaska Department of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, discuss what the certification means for the community and how locals can be more prepared for tsunamis and severe storms.

In this episode of "Island Interviews," Animal Control Officer Sean Peters explains how Animal Control can assist in finding new homes for animals that can no longer be cared for. He also shares an update on loose dog fees.

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” Unalaska’s Chief of Police Kim Hankins discusses dog ordinances within city limits and how owners can keep themselves and others safe by following the law.

After nearly two years without a stable police force, the remote Pribilof Island community of St. Paul is welcoming new Village Public Safety Officers. City Manager Philip Zavadil said he thinks the transition from a police force to public safety officers will be a good change for the remote community. “Not only is it a good fit for St. Paul, I think for most of rural Alaska, it's a better fit because we're not big [cities],” Zavadil said. “We have different problems, different ways of resolving those problems, different challenges.”

The National Weather Service has issued a tsunami advisory for Kodiak Island and the Alaska Peninsula areas following an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 that struck 55 miles SW of Sand Point at 10:48 p.m. Unalaska is NOT currently under a watch or warning. We will keep you posted with updates.

Ben Knowles, who served as a firefighter in Minnesota before joining the Unalaska Fire Department in 2018, was promoted to the head role on June 1. Knowles has held several leadership positions with the department, and has been recognized with statewide awards for both service and leadership.

Unalaska police say Francisco “Frankie” Garcia Santos, 40, provided pills containing fentanyl to Kieran Sean McCulley. McCulley, 32, was a crew member on the F/V Bulldog and died of an overdose when the boat was docked in Unalaska in January. Santos was arrested May 3, following an investigation by local police, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and other federal agencies that Simms declined to name.

Unalaska Deputy Police Chief Bill Simms said police do not suspect foul play in any of the deaths. He said the State Medical Examiner's Office ruled the first person died of natural causes, and he said police are waiting on final autopsy reports for the other four deaths, which remain under investigation.

Searchers found and recovered the body of Charlene Malepeai Mamea, 34, Tuesday at 4:48 p.m. in the lake on the north side of Broadway Avenue, at the intersection with Dutton Road.

A search is underway for Charlene Malepeai Mamea, 34, who was last seen Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on Dutton Road.