Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area Police Records
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area police records are maintained by Alaska State Troopers Detachment A, which serves all of Southeast Alaska. The census area covers Prince of Wales Island and the remote Hyder community on the border with British Columbia. The main AST contact point for the island is the Prince of Wales Post, with Ketchikan serving as the Detachment A hub. This page explains where records are held, how to request them, and what statewide tools apply to this area.
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area Police Records Overview
Alaska State Troopers Detachment A on Prince of Wales Island
Alaska State Troopers Detachment A covers all of Southeast Alaska, from Ketchikan in the south to communities further north. Detachment A headquarters is at 7366 N. Tongass Highway, Ketchikan AK 99901. Coverage area includes Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Wrangell, and the outlying census areas, including Prince of Wales Island and the Hyder community. The census area has no city police departments, so AST handles all general law enforcement.
The Prince of Wales Post is the on-island AST contact for Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Thorne Bay, and Hollis. The post number is (907) 826-2918. Craig and Klawock are the two main population centers on Prince of Wales Island. For 24-hour dispatch, call the Ketchikan Dispatch at (907) 225-5118. The Hyder community, near the Canadian border, is extremely remote and may be served by the Ketchikan post depending on troop availability and season.
Prince of Wales Island is accessible primarily by ferry from Ketchikan and by small plane. This affects response times and records availability in some cases. If you need to visit a post in person for a records matter, plan around ferry schedules or air access. Online crime reports for eligible incident types can be submitted at dps.alaska.gov/AST/CrimeReport. Eligible types include burglary, trespassing, fraud, property damage, shoplifting, telephonic harassment, and theft. Incidents involving firearms, drugs, or stolen vehicles must be reported by phone.
| Prince of Wales Post | (907) 826-2918 |
|---|---|
| Ketchikan Dispatch | (907) 225-5118 |
| Detachment A HQ | 7366 N. Tongass Highway, Ketchikan AK 99901 |
| Online Crime Reports | dps.alaska.gov/AST/CrimeReport |
| DPS Headquarters | (907) 269-5511 |
Requesting Prince of Wales-Hyder Police Records Under APRA
The Alaska Public Records Act at AS 40.25.100 through AS 40.25.295 governs access to records held by state agencies including AST. Any person has the right to inspect or copy public records during regular office hours. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The agency has 10 working days to respond. Written notice is required if the agency needs more time to comply.
To request police records from incidents in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, submit your request to the Prince of Wales Post or, for incidents where Ketchikan Detachment A responded directly, to the Ketchikan headquarters. Put your request in writing. Include the incident date and location, a report or case number if you have it, and the names of the people involved. Mail or fax is often more practical than in-person given the island's geography. The Ketchikan mailing address for Detachment A is 7366 N. Tongass Highway, Ketchikan AK 99901.
Exemptions under AS 40.25.120 apply to records that could interfere with open investigations, juvenile records, and certain medical information. Criminal history records are separately governed under AS 12.62.160. If a denial is issued, you have 60 working days to appeal to the agency head. A denied appeal can then be taken to Superior Court. Fees for records exceeding five person-hours of staff work per month may be charged at actual cost, with amounts under $50 paid at pickup and amounts over $50 prepaid.
The Alaska Public Records Act is explained in detail in the APRA guide from the Alaska Department of Law, which covers exemptions, fees, timelines, and appeal rights.
The guide is the primary reference for understanding what records you can access, what fees may apply, and how to appeal if a request is denied.
Court Records for Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
The Alaska CourtView portal is the main tool for searching public court records. It covers district and superior court filings statewide. You can search by name, case number, or date. CourtView is not a criminal history report; it shows court filings and documented case outcomes. It is free to search and does not require an account.
Cases from the census area are handled in the Ketchikan court system, which has both district and superior court jurisdiction for the area. Under AS 22.35.030, sealed cases, juvenile records, and acquittals or dismissals older than 60 days are removed from public view in CourtView. If you cannot find a case you are looking for, contact the Ketchikan clerk of court directly. The Alaska Trial Courts directory lists the address and contact information for the Ketchikan courthouse.
Copies of court documents cost $5 for the first page and $3 per page after that. Certified copies are $10 plus $3 per additional page. Staff research time runs $30 per hour when records are difficult to locate. Requests can be submitted in person at the courthouse or sent by mail, fax, or email to the clerk of court.
For those with connections to Ketchikan Correctional Center, the facility is at 4520 Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan AK 99901, phone (907) 225-6585. The Alaska DOC Research and Records office at (907) 465-3485 handles requests for corrections records separate from police records.
Criminal History and Sex Offender Registry
Alaska criminal history records are maintained by the DPS Records and Identification Bureau at 5700 E Tudor Road, Anchorage AK 99507, phone (907) 269-5767. Self-requested name-based criminal history checks cost $20 and can be ordered through the DPS self-service portal. The search draws from APSIN, Alaska's central criminal judgment database. Results are sent by email within a few business days. The governing statutes are AS 12.62.110 through 120.
A fingerprint-based search is available through the bureau for a more complete result. This is useful when name variations could cause records to be missed. Fingerprint submissions must go through the Anchorage bureau or an authorized fingerprinting location. For residents of Prince of Wales Island, the logistics of submitting fingerprints may require planning around ferry or air travel to Ketchikan or further.
The Alaska Sex Offender Registry is free and public. It has over 3,640 statewide entries under AS 12.63.100. HB 66 from July 2024 updated some registration requirements. You can search by name or by zip code to find registrations in Prince of Wales Island communities including Craig and Klawock. The registry is maintained by DPS with regular updates as new registrations and address changes come in.
The Alaska Sex Offender Registry provides free public access to registration records, searchable by name or geographic area for all communities including those in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area.
The registry is one of the only Alaska law enforcement records tools that requires no fee, no formal request, and no account to access.
Daily Dispatch and Additional Resources
The Alaska DPS Daily Dispatch posts daily summaries of trooper activity across the state. You can search by date or incident number. For Prince of Wales Island incidents, search by the relevant date and look for entries from the Prince of Wales or Ketchikan areas. The dispatch log does not contain full police reports but helps confirm whether an incident was documented and what case number was assigned. This is useful before submitting a formal APRA records request.
The Alaska State Troopers contacts page has current information for all posts and detachment commanders. For media or press inquiries about police records, the DPS Public Information Officer is Megan Peters at (907) 269-5413. For general DPS inquiries, call the main line at (907) 269-5511.
Cities in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
The Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area has no incorporated cities with populations above the qualifying threshold for a dedicated page. Craig and Klawock are the largest communities on the island. Hydaburg, Thorne Bay, and Hollis are other notable communities. Police records for any of these communities go through the Prince of Wales Post or the Ketchikan Detachment A headquarters.
Nearby Boroughs
These boroughs and census areas also follow the Alaska Public Records Act for police records access.