Petersburg Alaska Police Department

06/04/2026

**Update dog was picked up**

Found on First Street behind the Forest Service building. Please come to the PD to pick up.

05/28/2026

For community education: high-powered electric dirt bikes are not the same as legal e-bikes under Alaska law. Anyone planning to operate one on public property or a public roadway should review Alaska DMV’s off-highway vehicle and all-purpose vehicle requirements first.

DMV information:

Alaska Statute 28.10.310 prohibits the transfer of a vehicle to a non-emancipated minor. Therefore, a parent or legal guardian would need to also be included as a co-owner. Either conjunction OR / AND may be used.

04/29/2026

🎉 **Retirement Announcement — Sgt. Derek Thorsen**

The Petersburg Police Department would like to recognize and congratulate **Sergeant Derek Thorsen** on his retirement after **25 years of dedicated service to the Petersburg community**.

Throughout his career, Sgt. Thorsen has served Petersburg with professionalism, commitment, and a steady dedication to public safety. His years of service reflect a deep commitment to the people of this community, his fellow officers, and the mission of the Petersburg Police Department.

Over the past 25 years, Sgt. Thorsen has been part of countless calls, investigations, community events, and moments where Petersburg residents needed help. His experience, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on the department and the community he served.

In recognition of Sgt. Thorsen’s **last day of work**, the Petersburg Police Department will be serving **hot dogs, drinks, and cake** on:

📅 **Friday, May 1st**
🕛 **Noon to 2:00 p.m.**
📍 **Sandy Beach Shelter #2**

Everyone is invited to stop by, visit with Sgt. Thorsen, and wish him well during his final hours of work before retirement.

On behalf of the Petersburg Police Department, we thank Sgt. Thorsen for his many years of service, sacrifice, and dedication. We wish him the very best in retirement and in this next chapter of life.

**Congratulations, Sgt. Thorsen, and thank you for 25 years of service to Petersburg.**

04/29/2026

***Update the cat was claimed by its owner. Thanks for everyone's help.***

Found female cat in the area of 8th and Gjoa street last night. Please contact the Petersburg Police Department to pick up 907-772-3838. The cat appears to have some issues.

04/16/2026

Update dog was picked up by owner.

Found dog in the area of 4 mile. Please contact the PD to pick up. 907-772-3838

04/15/2026

Public Service Announcement

The Petersburg Police Department, in coordination with local Fire and EMS personnel, will be conducting an Active Threat training exercise at Stedman Elementary School on Wednesday, April 15th, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

What the public should know:
- There will be an increased presence of police, fire, and EMS personnel in and around the school during this time.
- Emergency vehicles may be seen entering and leaving the area.
- Simulated emergency conditions may include the use of training equipment, role players, and realistic response tactics.
- This is only a training exercise—there is no actual threat to the public.

Residents in the area may notice activity that could appear unusual, but there is no cause for alarm. We ask the public to avoid the immediate area during the exercise to allow responders to train safely and effectively.

The cooperation and understanding of the community are greatly appreciated as we work to maintain a high level of preparedness and public safety.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Petersburg Police Department.

04/03/2026

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
ATTENTION!!

Petersburg Borough and Rock-n-Road Construction will be conducting utility work in the vicinity of Hungry Point between the 1300 block of North Nordic and the 200 block of Sandy Beach Road. This area will be CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC from April 6 until April 18, 2025.

ALL DRIVERS SHOULD APPROACH THIS AREA WITH CAUTION. IT WOULD BE IN ALL MOTORISTS’ BEST INTEREST TO AVOID THIS AREA AND PLAN TO USE ALTERNATE ROUTES TO GET TO YOUR DESTINATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY!

Please call Rock-n-Road at (907) 772-3308 with any questions.

04/02/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT – FRAUDULENT DMV TEXT MESSAGE 🚨

The Petersburg Police Department has been made aware of a scam text message currently circulating that claims to be from the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The message states there is a deadline to pay vehicle fines and threatens serious consequences such as:

Vehicle confiscation
License suspension
Increased insurance rates
Court action

It then directs recipients to click a suspicious link to make a payment.

⚠️ THIS MESSAGE IS A SCAM.

The State of Alaska DMV does NOT send unsolicited text messages demanding payment or threatening immediate enforcement action. The link provided in the message is fraudulent and designed to steal personal and financial information.

What to do:

Do NOT click the link
Do NOT reply to the message
Delete the text immediately
Report the message as spam through your phone

If you are unsure about a legitimate DMV matter, contact the Alaska DMV directly through official state websites or by phone.

If you believe you may have clicked the link or provided information, please contact your financial institution immediately and report the incident.

Please share this post to help protect others in our community.

If anyone is still wondering whether these messages are legitimate… this exact text message was sent to the Chief of Police’s work phone too.

We’re pretty confident the DMV isn’t out here threatening to confiscate the Chief’s patrol vehicle via text message. 😄

When in doubt don’t click.

Petersburg Police Department

03/26/2026

Please use caution if you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a member of our department. While we don’t want to cause alarm, we want to make you aware of a situation involving individuals calling local residents from “No Caller ID” numbers and impersonating department personnel.

If you receive such a call, do not share any information. Instead, inform the caller that you will be hanging up and contacting the station directly. If the call is legitimate, the officer in question will be available when you call the department through official channels.

03/24/2026

Update: We were able to find this girl a foster family for the night but she is back at the department this am.

This sweet little thing was just dropped off at the PD. Help us find her owner. 907-772-3838