Michael Kerle Confirmed as Anchorage Police Chief

A veteran of the Anchorage Police Department (APD) is its new Chief. The Anchorage Assembly confirmed Mayor Dave Bronson’s choice of Michael Kerle to lead APD.

Kerle’s law enforcement career started at APD as a recruit in 1996. He has worked in the department’s Patrol Division, Special Operations, and Crime Suppression. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief in February 2020.

The position of chief became vacant when Kenneth McCoy retired to take a new position with Providence Alaska.

Kerle completed the Police Executive Leadership Graduate Program at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.

“Thank you to our Anchorage community who recognize, and greatly appreciate, the sacrifice and dedication of our police officers, and their willingness to put their lives on the line to protect others,” Kerle says. “Strong relationships of mutual trust between the police agencies and the communities they serve are critical to maintaining public safety and effective policing. To those members of the community that are hesitant or reluctant to trust or work with our department, let us communicate through fact-based dialogue to resolve our differences in order for all members of our community to feel safe and build on the future through mutual cooperation.”