Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
04/18/2017 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB235 | |
| HB125 | |
| HB224 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 235 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 224 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 235-NORTH STAR MEDAL
3:07:41 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 235, "An Act creating the North Star
Medal."
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS, as prime sponsor of HB 235, stated that
the intent of HB 235 is to recognize first responders and law
enforcement personnel at the state level like the Purple Heart
does on the national level. He mentioned that the proposed
legislation was the idea of former Representative Bob Lynn and
resulted from collaboration with Mr. Lynn.
3:09:14 PM
STEPHANIE GILARDI, Staff, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-
Tomkins, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative
Kreiss-Tomkins, prime sponsor of HB 235, stated that HB 235
would create the North Star Medal, which would serve as a symbol
of gratitude from the people of Alaska to first responders and
law enforcement personnel. She asserted that the medal is meant
to be a rare and high honor awarded by the governor to
individuals who are injured or killed in the line of duty while
exhibiting great courage in the service of their fellow
Alaskans. She said that firefighters, peace officers, emergency
medical technicians (EMTs), and search and rescue (SAR)
volunteers would all be eligible for the award. The category of
peace officer includes police officers, Village Public Safety
Officers (VPSOs), Alaska State Trooper (AST) troopers, municipal
police, and corrections officers.
MS. GILARDI relayed that other states, such as Idaho, Illinois,
Oregon, and Texas, have similar awards honoring first responders
and law enforcement for meritorious conduct and/or death or
injury in the line of duty. She maintained that the proposed
legislation would create an award that would honor Alaska's
fallen heroes.
MS. GILARDI stated that there is one comparable award that
currently exists in Alaska - the Alaska Medal of Heroism -
created by the legislature in 1965, which has been awarded
several times to recognize heroic and valorous deeds. She
offered that the difference [between that medal and the one
currently being proposed] is that the Alaska Medal of Heroism
can be awarded to any person and most often is awarded for
spontaneous acts of bravery, such as saving people from fire,
car crashes, or airplane wrecks. The North Star Medal would not
duplicate this award. While the recipients of the Alaska Medal
of Heroism are ordinary citizens responding to extraordinary
events with courage, the North Star Medal would honor people who
"show up" each day knowing that during their work, they could be
asked to sacrifice their lives to protect their fellow Alaskans.
MS. GILARDI relayed that nominations for the North Star Medal
may originate within communities and [state] departments. The
nominee names would be passed on to the highest-ranking
supervisor in that department and forwarded to the commissioner
of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), who would review the
nominations and pass them on to the governor. She said the
medals would be awarded by the governor in a ceremony occurring
no more than once per year; if the honoree is no longer living
or unable to accept the award, it would be presented to his/her
next of kin.
MS. GILARDI related that staff has been working closely with
DPS; the DPS already creates and designs awards for its own
employees and would be amenable to designing this one. She
thanked Commissioner Monegan for assisting with naming the
medal.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS mentioned that HB 235 would complement HB
23 [signed into law 6/21/17], which created benefits for
survivors of those felled in the line of duty.
3:13:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked if the Purple Heart may be awarded to
a member of the [Alaska] National Guard or a member of the
organized militia of Alaska who respond to emergencies.
MS. GILARDI responded that there is a military honor, which was
created in 2007 - the Alaska Declaration of Honor - that may be
awarded to members of the military such as guardsmen.
3:13:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked which award - the North Star Medal
or the Alaska Medal of Heroism - would be appropriate for a SAR
volunteer.
MS. GILARDI answered that she included the SAR volunteers among
those eligible for the North Star Medal because they work
closely with law enforcement and have made commitments to serve
in an organization devoted to helping other people; they are on
call like first responders; and they are willing to put
themselves in danger.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON offered that SAR volunteers would be like
volunteer firefighters who are members of an active volunteer
corps.
MS. GILARDI replied, that's correct.
3:15:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL referred to the letter, included in the
committee packet, from the Alaska Correctional Officers
Association (ACOA) and asked for confirmation that this group
would be included under the category "peace officers."
MS. GILARDI answered, "Yes they are."
3:16:05 PM
BOB LYNN testified, "There is a medal that Alaska needs, that
too many people deserve, but nobody wants." He relayed that the
U.S. Armed Forces has the Purple Heart, which is awarded to
someone who is wounded or killed in a hostile action. He
maintained that Alaska law enforcement heroes and those working
with them, who are wounded or killed by hostile actions by
opponents of law and order - thugs, criminals, and the scum of
humanity - are deserving of such a medal. He said that HB 235
proposes such a medal, which would be titled the "North Star
Medal." He offered that Alaska's budget issues are important,
but so is honoring law enforcement through the proposed
legislation. He stated that without the help and support of the
military overseas and law enforcement at home, all other issues,
including budget issues, are moot. He maintained that when law
enforcement officers are wounded or killed on behalf of
Alaskans, there needs to be special recognition by the State of
Alaska; that is what is proposed under HB 235; and it is the
least Alaska can do.
MR. LYNN stated that he has a special interest in the proposed
legislation due to having been a law officer himself and having
many family members in law enforcement. He said, "By the grace
of God, none of our family were ever wounded or killed, but we
had comrades and friends who were." He maintained that these
people should have been awarded special recognition by their
states, just as a member of the military is awarded a Purple
Heart by a grateful nation. He urged the committee to pass HB
235.
3:19:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH expressed his appreciation and support for
the proposed legislation.
3:20:27 PM
WALT MONEGAN, Commissioner Designee, Department of Public Safety
(DPS), stated that his father, Walt Monegan, Jr., was a U.S.
(Marine Corps) marine, killed in action during the Korean War
and posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Commissioner Monegan relayed that he was in utero when his
father died, so never met his father. He stated that the medal
is proudly displayed in his home and has served as a physical
reminder since childhood that "I, too, must believe in something
larger than myself."
Commissioner Monegan offered that the award being considered
under HB 235 is a similar form of recognition [as the Purple
Heart] of a first responder who has answered a threat in a
manner that is above and beyond the call of duty. He maintained
that the medal will honor its wearer and his/her family, and it
will serve as a reminder that there are still brave and noble
Alaskans who also believe in things that are bigger than
themselves.
3:22:10 PM
ED MERCER, Deputy Chief, Juneau Police Department (JPD), relayed
a story of heroism and sacrifice as follows: On April 2015, two
general police officers responded to a call involving an airline
passenger who violated a rule on the airplane. The officers
contacted the passenger near the tarmac, who provided the
officers with a fake name, then became increasingly agitated.
The man took off running toward the restricted area of the
tarmac, and both officers pursued him. After a brief chase, the
officers tackled the man; the man tried to take one officer's
handgun; and the other officer tried to subdue the man applying
several soft- and hard-hand techniques to no avail. The man
continued to try to remove the officer's gun, but the other
officer hit the man until the man stopped. The man then started
to grab the officer's taser and was stopped only after the other
officer pulled out his taser and demanded the man to stop. The
man was arrested, and JPD learned that the man had an
outstanding warrant in another state. Although no one was
killed in this incident, one of the officers sustained an injury
resulting in months of missed work, surgery, and rehabilitation.
MR. MERCER stated that he believes policing is one of the
noblest professions a person can undertake. It is one with
incredible rewards and responsibilities; however, it is not
without risk or sacrifice. He said that the story he related is
just one example, and he maintained that across Alaska law
enforcement, fire fighters, first responders, and SAR volunteers
risk their lives daily in service to the communities of Alaska.
He asserted that it is for this reason he supports HB 235 and
the North Star Medal.
3:24:32 PM
DAVID CAMPBELL, Lieutenant, Juneau Police Department, relayed
that in preparation for testifying, he walked through the police
department and asked each officer he encountered whether he/she
had ever been injured or assaulted in the line of duty. He
stated that except for two officers, every officer with whom he
spoke had been assaulted. He offered that he has been assaulted
four times over the course of his 22 years with JPD. He related
the story of one officer: The officer arrested a suspect who
sucker punched him, grabbed him in a headlock, and tried to
gouge out his eye. The officer was rescued by an off-duty
police officer from Colorado; the suspect was tasered and taken
into custody. The officer missed time from work while his eye
was recovering from a scratched cornea.
MR. CAMPBELL attested to the humility of that officer in
relating his story and of all the officers who told Mr. Campbell
of their injuries on the job. He stated that he looked at the
Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program
statistics for 2016 and learned that for JPD with 55 officers,
there were 20 reports of officers injured in the line of duty by
assaultive behavior.
MR. CAMPBELL maintained that the North Star Medal is a good idea
for two reasons. First, it would counteract "police cynicism" -
the tendency of police officers to contract a negative view of
society after dealing with negative things every day. He
maintained that two of his favorite days of the year are the
[National] Police Memorial Day and the National Night Out in
Juneau, because regular citizens come out to these events and
thank the police for the work they do; it demonstrates to police
officers that there are good people "out there" who care about
them. He asserted that this medal would represent a show of
support and respect from the highest office in the state.
MR. CAMPBELL offered the second reason that the North Star Medal
is a good idea: the average citizen in the state may not
realize how dangerous it is to be a law enforcement officer; it
would be a reminder that not just those making the ultimate
sacrifice should be recognized, but people who get assaulted on
a regular basis. He suggested that the award may counter some
of the negative rhetoric against police officers, heard across
the nation.
3:27:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON thanked the officers for serving;
mentioned that she has attended the [National] Police Memorial
Day in Anchorage; and expressed her support for the proposed
legislation.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS concurred.
3:28:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked if any police officers have received
the Alaska Medal of Heroism.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that he did not know, but JPD has an
internal process to bestow awards; the officer in Mr. Mercer's
narration was given a local award. He maintained that he
supports the North Star Medal for law enforcement as well as
civilians, because he believes that statewide recognition would
"go a long way" to let Alaskans know that sacrifices are being
made.
3:29:54 PM
DARYL WEBSTER, Assistant Superintendent, Lemon Creek
Correctional Center (LCCC), Department of Corrections (DOC),
testified that he is in support of HB 235, because he was a
police officer for 28 years before working for DOC. He said his
father was a police officer; and as a child, Mr. Webster
experienced his first police officer funeral when his father's
best friend was shot to death, while on duty, by a barricaded
armed robber. He relayed that during the time he was a police
officer, he attended the funerals of two of his coworkers, who
were shot to death. He added that many of his coworkers have
been injured, as has he.
MR. WEBSTER asserted that he is sensitive to the sacrifices that
Alaska's first responders make and the need to recognize them
for those sacrifices. He maintained that the award would send a
message to Alaska's emergency service workers that Alaskans are
aware of what they do. He offered that it is easy for first
responders to feel that their work and suffering is
unappreciated except by their coworkers; they need to be
reminded that Alaskans understand "what they're going through."
He asserted that workers in this field recognize that they may
be injured or killed, but they want it to mean something. He
offered that sometimes all that is needed is a small but sincere
gesture to inspire other people to heroic service, and it is a
gesture worth making.
MR. WEBSTER reiterated that the award would demonstrate Alaska's
recognition that the sacrifice of an officer is not his/her
sacrifice alone but is the sacrifice of his/her family,
colleagues, and society. He offered his support for the
proposed legislation.
3:32:20 PM
TROY LARUE, Division Operations Manager, Statewide Aviation,
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF),
testified that he has worked with many dedicated first
responders across the state for 20 years. He said that Alaska
has an extremely diverse population in all walks of life, but
saving lives transcends all personal differences. He maintained
that emergency responders, whether volunteers or paid staff,
spend countless hours in training and preparation to save lives
and property. He stated that when an emergency responder
arrives at a scene, most of the time he/she has limited
information as to what he/she might be facing; the first rule
for a responder is "to stay the rescuer and not join the list of
people who need to be rescued." He said that unfortunately
there are occasions when some of Alaska's first responders find
themselves in harm's way; and Alaska needs a clear vision of how
it honors its fallen and injured emergency personnel. He
expressed his belief that HB 235 is more than a provision to
hand out awards; it is a method to show appreciation for
personal sacrifice when tragedy strikes.
3:34:23 PM
STEVE BEAR, Colonel, Director, Division of Alaska Wildlife
Troopers (AWT), Department of Public Safety (DPS), testified
that the Purple Heart was created for military personnel many
years ago, because it realized the importance of recognizing the
sacrifices that people make, and the North Star Medal would "go
a long way" towards doing the same. He mentioned that in his
many years with DPS and the military, he has become aware of
many people deserving of such a medal and the importance of such
recognition to their families. He offered that these public
servants work for individual departments but serve all citizens
of the State of Alaska. He expressed his appreciation for the
inclusion of SAR volunteers, because there are many organized
SAR groups who save many lives every year; and without their
service, there would be many more deaths in Alaska.
3:36:43 PM
NICK SZABO, Vice President, Alaska Search and Rescue Association
(ASARA), referred to the letter from Corey Aist, President,
ASARA [included in the committee packet]. He stated that ASARA
represents over 750 SAR volunteers across the state, who are
organized into about 50 SAR teams; most are unpaid volunteers
dispatched by the Alaska State Troopers (AST) [DPS] to assist in
searching for and rescuing lost people in the wilderness and
back country. He pointed out that HB 235 would not cost the
state money. He maintained that ASARA fully supports HB 235,
and he urged the committee to support the proposed legislation.
3:38:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON reiterated that she appreciates the
proposed legislation, especially considering the size of the
state and the abundance of outdoor activity in the state.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that HB 235 would be held over.