Galena names new police chief
by Staff Report / newsroom@newsminer.com
5 days ago | 683 views | 6 6 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
FAIRBANKS — Mike Ervin was named Galena’s police chief on Tuesday.

Ervin, a 38-year-old Athabascan, has served with the Galena Police Department for 1 1/2 years and will replace outgoing Chief John Millan.

“Mike is the kind of outstanding, honest and professional chief that Galena wants,” Millan stated in a press release.

Ervin said he was honored by the promotion, especially because he cannot recall seeing a Native police chief in Alaska.

He grew up in Northway until he was 14 and lived in Tok until age 19. He is a veteran of the Iraq War, serving in the Army.

Ervin was educated at the Fairbanks Police Academy and has served in law enforcement for four years, working as a correctional officer in Kansas before joining the military.

Contact the News-Miner at 459-7572.
comments (6)
« polarbear wrote on Tuesday, Nov 17 at 04:30 PM »
Good riddance to Millan, Mike will be a breath of fresh air after what we had. Maybe this chief won't embarrass us.
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« Hmmmmmmmmmm wrote on Monday, Nov 16 at 06:42 PM »
"Old John" is headed down to southeast Ak to be chief of a larger department.

Also James Hoschler is Chief of Hopper Bay and is Ak Native.
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« polarbear wrote on Monday, Nov 16 at 04:29 PM »
What happened to the old Chief John Millan?
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« DouglasJ wrote on Sunday, Nov 15 at 09:52 AM »
Congratulations on your promotion but this line "Ervin said he was honored by the promotion, especially because he cannot recall seeing a Native police chief in Alaska" shows just how inexperienced he is. Maybe it is because he has only been a cop for 1.5 years but there have been several native chiefs of Alaska Police Departments. Glenn Godrey was the Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers and the Commissioner of Publix Safety. Walt Monegan was the Chief of the Anchorage Police Department and then Commissioner of Public Safety. Joe Masters is the current Commissioner of Public Safety.

He might want to check out his facts before he spews out stuff like that. Especially that he is now in a position where people will listen to him.

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« Yukonjohn wrote on Sunday, Nov 15 at 12:41 AM »
Good Luck with your new promotion Mike!! Best wishes with a hard job, but you are a good one for it!

John, best of luck in your future endeavors.

John Greene
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