The State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT/PF) owns and operates Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and is responsible for providing police and aircraft rescue firefighting protection. In turn, the Airport Police and Fire Department was developed to oversee public safety at the Airport.

The Airport Police and Fire Department is made up of a team of highly skilled and State certified Airport Police and Fire Officer. The Airport Police and Fire Officer I position is the entry-level position. Airport Police and Fire Officers are trained to provide both police and aircraft rescue firefighting protection for the Airport. Additionally, new hires are required to obtain certification by the Alaska Police Standards Council.

The Airport Police and Fire Department welcomes all applicants that are interested in a unique and challenging career. Applicants for the Airport Police and Fire I position should be:

And possess:

New hires are appointed to the Airport Police and Fire Officer I class pending successful completion of all portions of the required examinations, including medical and psychological evaluations. All persons appointed to the class must earn a basic certificate as a police officer issued by the Alaska Police standards Council within 14 months of the appointment date.

As part of the selection process, applicants must pass a written examination and a physical agility test. In addition, an extensive background investigation will be conducted which includes a criminal history check, personal history evaluation, drug screening, and polygraph examination. Employees must have normal color discrimination, binocular coordination, peripheral vision and visual acuity correctable to 20/30 or better in each eye.

The physical agility test consists of:

Applicants selected as Airport Police and Fire Officer I will attend either the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka. The training curriculum includes police procedures, substantive law, criminal investigation procedures, police photography, report writing, defense tactics, firearms qualification, emergency vehicle operation and emergency first aid. Training will prepare a recruit for field training with an experienced officer. Recruits at the academy follow military protocol. Fundamental marching skills are taught to instill a level of discipline and facilitate orderly movement of recruits to training areas. Academy training prepares the recruit, both physically and mentally, for continued training after graduation with a qualified field-training officer.

At the beginning of the academy, and periodically throughout, physical fitness evaluations are administered to each student. Strict adherence to the physical training program is required to enable the student to reach fitness goals. Physical training is given five days a week and includes cardiovascular sessions and physical conditioning exercises for increasing upper body and abdominal strength.

During the probationary period with the Airport Police and Fire Department recruits must successfully complete in-house firefighting academies (I,II & ARFF) and the Field-Training Program (on-the-job training) for both police and firefighting positions. The Field-Training Program allows newly trained officers to apply the knowledge and skills learned during training. The recruit will be assigned to an experienced Field Training Officer who evaluates the knowledge and skills learned. The recruit is expected to develop and to perform all functions independently. The evaluations received during the Academy training and Field Training determines continued employment as an Airport Police and Fire Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities of an Airport Police and Fire Officer I include:

Performing routine security patrol of airport grounds, security gates, tenant organization, and aircraft parking areas; enforcing State and federal statutes, airport and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, issuing citations, making arrests, transporting prisoners and testifying in court; investigating motor vehicle and aircraft accidents; rendering first aid; checking parking areas for overdue aircraft; and locating accidentally activated emergency locator beacons in parked aircraft.

Patrolling the Airport Air Operations area; checking employee identification, responding to weapons violations at screening points; serving as an escort; conducting investigations; providing the public with information and/or assistance; enforcing traffic laws; enforcing provisions of the airport security program; and enforcing state or applicable federal and municipal laws.

Patrolling air operations area; ensuring adherence to appropriate safety practices; safeguarding against security violations, investigating suspicious persons or activities; checking runways, taxiways, ramps, and apron areas for debris, animals, or hazardous conditions; and assisting Customs, Immigration and Public Health Officials.

Patrolling airport terminal; providing assistance to the public and airport tenants; enforcing applicable FAA regulations pertaining to pre-board passenger screening; performing preliminary crime scene investigations; directing traffic, assisting in the impoundment of illegally parked vehicles and aircraft; providing mutual aid to other law enforcement officers; and performing special security and escort assignments.

Performing Aircraft & Rescue duties; operating motor vehicles, boats, snow machines and a variety of firefighting and crash rescue equipment; participating in Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting; reviewing firefighting training manuals, standards, and safety practices; assisting in training of Airport Police and Fire Officer I; preparing and conducting short training sessions; providing mutual aid to other fire suppression organizations as required; and performing routine fire station maintenance duties.

Additional examples of firefighting duties are:

Effectively operating various aircraft fire fighting apparatus and supplemental equipment; conducting runway standby's for aircraft arriving with any variety of potentially dangerous emergencies. Emergency medical assists; responding to, and fighting fires (structural, vehicle, and aircraft); responding to aircraft and vehicle accidents; and dealing with hazardous materials releases and fuel spills.

Operating two-way communications systems; receiving emergency fire reports and requests for assistance; dispatching fire/crash/rescue or law enforcement personnel and equipment as appropriate; preparing daily activity reports, accident reports, arrest reports, etc.

SALARY

The Airport Police and Fire Department provides competitive pay and benefits. The starting salary for an Airport Police and Fire Officer I is approximately $4870 per month, and is subject to modification by terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Base salary after completion of probation and promotion to Airport Police and Fire Officer II is approximately $5242 per month.

BENEFITS

An Airport Police and Fire Officer I receives benefits including paid leave and holidays, seven days off in every two-week period, life and health insurance programs for the Airport Police and Fire Officer I and dependents, and a retirement program when vested after 5 years. As an added benefit, the Airport Police and Fire Department pays for all on-the-job training and certification for new hires.

For Airport Police and Fire Officers, our extensive training programs ensure you meet all the requirements for new and on-going certification. The goals of recruit Airport Police and Fire Officers I are to learn and apply aircraft rescue & firefighting and law enforcement theory, techniques, and practices; to deal effectively with a varied population in a wide variety of situations; reason logically; analyze situations accurately and make sound decisions. As part of your employment benefits, you will receive comprehensive training in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical care, which is paid for by the department. All training programs are maintained by the Training Officer, who is responsible for ensuring that all initial and continuing certification standards are met by the officers.

Successful completion of the training programs and certifications are required for each field. Within the first year of employment, training includes:

Upon completion of these programs, officers participate in a "Field Training Program," (or )on-the-job training) to prepare for daily challenges. Each following year, officers complete recurrent training and certification. Successful completion of Academy training and Field Training determines continued employment as an Airport Police and Fire Officer but also provides promotion opportunities to a Airport Police and Fire Officer II position. Failure to successfully complete the training program within one year may be grounds for dismissal.

To apply online for a position with the Airport Police and Fire Department, visit the Workplace Alaska. Click on the Quicklinks for a list of current job openings.