Alaska Senate removes new Talkeetna Trooper outpost from state budget

Governor Mike Dunleavy’s initial budget for the 2026 fiscal year included $2.4 million dedicated to reopening an Alaska State Trooper post in Talkeetna. The proposed outpost made it through the Alaska House of Representatives, but was cut when the budget item made it to the Alaska Senate.

Talkeetna’s previous trooper outpost closed almost a decade ago. Since then, there have been multiple unsuccessful attempts to create some sort of law enforcement presence in the area.

“The Talkeetna Trooper post should never have been cut in the first place,” Alaska Representative Kevin McCabe said, “The troopers have a near impossible job and, as our citizens move north, the State of Alaska must keep up with EMS and Law Enforcement.”

Without a dedicated post in the Upper Susitna Valley, it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours for a trooper to respond to the over 2500 yearly service calls.

McCabe said he supports establishing a new trooper outpost and continuously hears from various community councils, including the Talkeetna Community Council, Susitna Community Council, and Trapper Creek Community Council, that an outpost is needed.

McCabe said that despite the funding being removed from the budget, he plans to work with the Alaska State Troopers and keep advocating for a Talkeetna Trooper outpost in the future.