An Alaska state trooper died Tuesday afternoon after being attacked by wild animals outside his home.
The agency reported that Court Services Officer Curtis Warland was shot after trying to scare a group of dogs from a dog house near his home near Nome.
Warland, who had been in the service for 13 years, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Army spokesman Austin McDaniel told The Associated Press he could not immediately say how many muskets Warland’s group had.
The daughter of a state trooper killed in an Indiana house fire remains unidentified.
Officer Curtis Warland, an Alaska State Trooper, died Tuesday, December 13, 2022, after being shot outside his home.
(Alaska State Troopers)
Court services officers are law enforcement officers who provide inmate transportation, courthouse security and court docket services, McDaniel added.
Warland worked as a civil society organization at the Nome, Alaska military post throughout his career, which began in December 2009, the agency said in a news release.
“Curtis proudly wore the uniform of a Law Enforcement Officer and served the people of Alaska with honor for 13 years. He was a proud member of the Nome community and a dedicated member of the Alaska law enforcement family,” said Alaska Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. in a news release. “I hope that Alaskans will keep Curtis’ family, friends, loved ones and the Alaska State Troopers in your thoughts as we consider this tragic loss for our state. He will be greatly missed by the DPS family.”
A Pennsylvania woman has been convicted of a firearms charge in the death of a state trooper.
A thin blue line is seen around the Alaska State Troopers badge as the agency mourns the loss of Coroner Curtis Warland.
(Alaska State Troopers/Facebook)
The Alaska State Troopers posted the following tribute to Warland on the agency’s Facebook page Tuesday evening:
“We are deeply saddened to report that CSO Worland was tragically killed this morning during a muskox attack near Nome. CSO Worland was trying to capture a group of muskox near his home kennel. He was attacked by a muskox. and fatally wounded. CSO Worland proudly wore the uniform of a Judicial Services Officer and served the people of Alaska with honor for 13 years. He was a proud member of the Nome community and a dedicated member of the Alaska law enforcement family, and he was very will be missed.”
FILE – Musk on a special farm in Palmer, Alaska.
(AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, muskrats are straight, long-haired animals with shoulders and horns. They can weigh up to 800 pounds (363 kilograms).
Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the state Department of Fish and Game are investigating the attack.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.