Gary Folger Named Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety

A man who retired last May from the Alaska Department of Public Safety has been chosen by Governor Parnell to become the Commissioner of the Department. Colonel Gary Folger replaces Joe Masters who retired back in October. Folger is Athabascan and has been in law enforcement since 1979. He graduated from the Public Safety Academy in 1981 and became a State Trooper in Fairbanks. He was transferred to King salmon in the early 90’s and steadily rose through the ranks of the Troopers until being promoted to Lieutenant in 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2007 and was given the job of overseeing the Division of Wildlife Troopers. He retired from the Department in May but will now rejoin the Department as Commissioner.