The Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program provides rural Alaskan communities with needed public safety services at the local level. The VPSO program was created to reduce the loss of life due to fires, drowning, lost person(s), and the lack of immediate emergency medical assistance in rural communities.
Eligibility Requirements
Depending on funding, a Southeast community can request a VPSO if their local city council can provide:
- Safe, sanitary, and secure office space, equipment, and supplies suitable and necessary to enable the VPSO to perform his or her duties;
- Safe, sanitary and secure residential living quarters suitable and necessary for the VPSO and his or her family. The city and VPSO shall negotiate any subsidy on rent and the city further agrees to provide necessary utility services for the residential living quarters; and
- A suitable VPSO public safety vehicle at the city’s expense.