The Galena Police Department is the only city police department in the region, with the surrounding villages being provided police protection by Village Public Safety Officers (V.P.S.O.'s) and Alaska State Troopers. G.P.D. works closely with the Alaska State Troopers and federal officers to keep the area safe. District court is held in Galena, with the area jail located in Fairbanks. Galena has a very low rate of serious crime and the department's goal is to maintain a safe and vibrant community. Outreach to local school children is a specific priority, as is serving the diverse population of the region. The rich Athabascan native heritage of the area is a proud building block for the values of the town. The police department proudly recognizes the contributions and heritage of our local native population.

The Galena Police Department currently has one vacancy for a regularly-scheduled part-time police officer, working two or three shifts per week. This position may be combined with a vacancy in another city department DOQ, to provide for full benefits, pension and insurance plan, depending on qualifications. The position is being considered for eventual conversion to a full-time law enforcement position. Salary is from $20.00-$25.00 an hour DOQ, plus a take-home vehicle, training and equipment provided free. See the vacancy announcement on usacops.com or AK Municipal League or AK Assoc. of Chiefs of Police.

In addition to the Chief and regular part-time officer, the department is also authorized one paid reserve and up to three auxillary officers.

Being a police officer in Alaska's only Police Department between Fairbanks and Nome is a uniquely rewarding and challenging job! If you are interested, email the Chief at chiefmillan@usacops.com or call Galena City Hall at (907) 656-1301 for an application.

The Galena Police Department is authorized a number of part-time jail guards as determined by the chief, a reserve officer program of varied levels of proficiency as authorized by the Alaska Police Standdards Commission (APSC), a student senior-intern program each semester and unlimited members of the community watch program.

Interested applicants should download a personal history statement form from the Alaska Police Standards Council, complete, sign and notarize it and mail it to the police department, attention to the Chief.

Applications will be held on file indefinitely, though they may have to be updated depending on the date filed.

About Galena: Galena is only accessible by air year-round, with several regional airlines and charter services. The city has no connecting state highways to the outside region. The Yukon River connects the city to area villages. Boats visit constantly in warm weather, traveling down from Fairbanks and other communities. Tugboats tow cargo barges back and forth from Nenana located below Fairbanks up and down the Yukon, bringing vital and assorted supplies when the river is not frozen. Snow machines travel the frozen river in the cold winter periods.

Early history: Galena was originally a native settlement, with the forefathers of the area's present-day natives making a living by hunting and by fishing the salmon and other bountiful fish of the mighty Yukon River. Many native residents still fish the Yukon River in traditional fashion, stocking up on Salmon as a winter staple.

Cold War years: The US Air Force built a base here which was a vital link for US defense against possible Soviet attack in the cold war years, as Galena was the closest combat aircraft squadron to Soviet airspace. A squadron of fighter intercept aircraft stood the line for freedom for over five decades. Campion Air Force Station, a radar tracking station was also located five miles north of the city. It was part of famous Cold War General Curtis Lemay's Defense Early Warning (D.E.W.) Line, which monitored the skies of the U.S. and Canada for Soviet aircraft intrusions or for Soviet nuclear missiles coming over the horizon. Military and civilian Air Force personnel were the bulk of the original outsiders, many of whom married local residents, stayed in the area and settled their families here. Government employees, teachers and healthcare providers have also infused the community from the outside.

The flood: After a devastating flood in the 1970's, the city moved many buildings and homes from the "old Town" area on the riverbanks to the current area (New Town) located about 2 miles north and several blocks back from the river.

BRAC: With the Cold War over, the Base Realignment And Closure Committee (B.R.A.C.) recommended closure of the base in the late 1990's. Final and complete closure is slated for Oct. of 2008. Campion Station had closed in 1993 and is now the site of the city's landfill. Though many military towns fear ruin at the loss of a military base, Galena took opportunity from a possible setback, making the base into the State's only premier public school boarding school, which not only provides an Alaska high school diploma to young people from across the state, it provides career training and certificates in aviation, food service, cosmetology, automotive repair and construction, as well as maintaining standard educational programs, all provided in a residential setting. Young people from the frozen barrens of the North Slope to the lush panhandle attend the school. As the G.I.L.A. School continues to grow, the former Air Force base site continues to be a great potential for the city.