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Chief John Lucking, Jr.
Chief John Lucking was hired by the Soldotna Police Department as Chief of
Police in September 2003. He was born and raised in the state of Alaska. He spent his
formative years in and around Fairbanks and then Anchorage where he went to high school and college. In January
1985 Chief Lucking attended the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka, Alaska
and afterwards went to work as a police officer with the Unalaska Department of
Public Safety. He subsequently served that department as an
Investigator, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Chief of Police. In 1990 he attended
Northwestern University’s Police Administration Course, and in 2001 he attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virg inia. He currently holds a degree in Criminal Justice and
Electronic Technologies from the University of
Alaska, Fairbanks as well as an Advanced and Instructor certificate with
the Alaska Police
Standards Council. Chief Lucking has served on several boards and commissions
and was the founder and long-term president of the Aleutian
Islands Chapter of the Alaska Peace Officers Association. He is also active in
organizations that include the Department of
Justice National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Advisory Council N.W., The International
Association of Chiefs of Police, the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, the Alaska Peace Officers Association and the FBI National Academy Associates.
 Sergeant Robb M. Quelland
Sergeant Robb Quelland was hired by the Soldotna Police Department in
February 1992 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the fall of 1998.
He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division after serving almost two
years as Sergeant in charge of detectives. Sgt. Quelland has worked in the
states of Wisconsin and Texas as a police officer. He served in the United States Air Force and participated in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. Sgt. Quelland has an AA Degree from the Community College of
the Air Force and a BA Degree from the University of St.
John's. Sgt. Quelland attended the FBI National Academy (Session #211) in Quantico
Virginia in the fall of 2002 and holds an
Advanced Police Certificate with the Alaska Police
Standards Council and is a Certified Police
Instructor in the State of Alaska. Sergeant Quelland was also awarded a
“Commendation for Valor” for his actions during a shooting incident at the Central Peninsula Hospital, and was the
Department’s 2009 Officer of the Year.
Sergeant Duane Kant
Sergeant Duane Kant was hired as a Soldotna Police Officer in February
1992. Since that time, he has
also served as a Patrol Officer and a Detective. He was promoted to
Sergeant in November of 2006. Sergeant Kant attended the State of Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka in 1993. Sergeant Kant is a Certified
Field Training Officer; DARE Officer, and Radar Instructor for the Department. He is
a US Army Veteran, having been stationed
at Fort Richardson, Alaska from 1989-1992, and serving as an
Engineer officer. Sergeant Kant is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a 2010 graduate
of the 240th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Sergeant Stace Escott
Sergeant Stace Escott began working for the
Soldotna Police Department in August 2000. He attended the 24th
session of the Alaska Law Enforcement Training
Academy in Sitka
Alaska. Sgt. Escott served
as a Patrol Officer and Certified Field Training Officer before leaving the
department in October 2005. He then moved to Amelia Island Florida
and worked as a Director of Facility Services for Senior Living Communities
where he received the “Director of the Year” award in 2007 among 78
directors. Sgt. Escott was rehired by the Soldotna Police Department
in June 2010. He is a graduate of BYU Idaho and Weber State
University where he studied Criminal Justice.
While attending college he also served two internships for the Salt Lake
County Sheriff’s Department
Investigator Johnny Whitehead 
Investigator Johnny Whitehead retired as a
Counter Intelligence Special Agent from the US Military in 1990 with 20 years of service. He
earned an Associate’s Degree while in the military. Officer Whitehead
was hired by the Alaska State Troopers in 1990 and is a
graduate of the Alaska State Trooper Academy. He served
the Department of Public
Safety as a Court Services Officer in Anchorage for three years and
as an Alaska State Trooper with the Division of Fish and
Wildlife Protection on the Kenai Peninsula for four and
one half years. Officer Whitehead has served the community of
Soldotna as a Police Officer since 1998. He was assigned to the Soldotna Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team for two years and
has completed numerous Drug Enforcement Administration training
courses. Officer Whitehead was a member of the Alaska State Troopers Special Emergency
Reaction Team for ten years and is currently assigned as a Uniformed
Investigator for the Department. He is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association, and the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, He is a
Professional Association of Diving Instructors Divemaster and a Scuba
Diving International Divemaster. Investigator Whitehead was also awarded a
“Commendation for Valor” for his actions during a shooting incident at the Central Peninsula Hospital.
 Officer Marvin Towell
Officer Marvin Towell began his employment with the City of Soldotna on September
28, 1998. He supervised the Patrol Division until March 3, 2000, when he
was transferred to Administrative Services. Prior to coming to Soldotna,
all of Officer Towell's police experience (not including military police)
was in the State of Arizona. He started in 1975 in Pinal County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy Sheriff, patrolling
the desert! After 2 years, he was hired by Coolidge City Police Department. He was promoted to Sergeant
after 2 years. After 3 years at Coolidge PD, he relocated to Willcox, AZ
and was hired by Willcox PD as a Patrol Officer. In 1983 he was promoted to
Sergeant and in 1987 he was promoted to Lieutenant. In 1989 he was hired by
Parker Police Department as their Chief of Police. In 1996 he was hired by LaPaz County
Sheriff's Office as their Emergency Services Director and Environmental
Crimes Enforcement Officer. Officer Towell is a graduate of the 181st
Session of the FBI National Academy (1995) and is a current member
of the FBI National Academy
Associates, Alaska
Chapter. He is a former member of the IACP and Arizona Chiefs of Police Association. In 1985, he graduated from Cochise College at Douglas, Arizona majoring in Criminal
Justice. In December 2002, Officer Towell received his Bachelor's in Criminal
Justice from Almeda College and University in Boise, Idaho.
Officer Towell is currently assigned to the Soldotna Patrol Division.
Officer Tobin Brennan
Officer Tobin Brennan began working for the
Soldotna Police Department in June 2000. He was born and raised in Anchorage. He
attended college at the University of
Alaska, Fairbanks where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree
in Criminal Justice. During his time at UAF Officer Brennan worked as
an intern for the North Slope Borough Department of Public Safety. He
attended the 21st session of the State of Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy located in Sitka Alaska.
After graduating the police academy Officer Brennan worked for the
Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit before joining the Soldotna Police
Department. Officer Brennan started as a patrol officer and then was
assigned to the Alaska
Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement from October of 2002 to January or
2005. During that time he attended the Drug Enforcement Agency’s
Investigator course, the Clandestine
Laboratory Enforcement
School and numerous
other training courses. Officer Brennan is a Standardized Field
Sobriety Test and Datamaster instructor. He is also the Breath
Alcohol Program Supervisor for the Soldotna Police Department. Officer
Brennan holds an Advanced Police Certificate with the Alaska Police
Standards Council, and is a Certified Police
Instructor. He is a member of the Alaska Peace Officers Association and formally
served as a Kenai Chapter Board member. Officer Brennan was 2009
recipient of the Department’s Community Service Award and is currently
assigned to the Patrol Division where he also serves as a Field Training
Officer.
Officer Mark Berestoff
Officer Mark Berestoff came to the Soldotna Police Department from Wisconsin in August 2000. Officer Berestoff received his
Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Western
Technical College in LaCrosse Wisconsin and his Bachelor of Science
degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Mountain
State University in  Beckley West Virginia. Officer Berestoff attended the
58th session of the Wisconsin State Police Academy. After completing his academy
training, Officer Berestoff began his Law Enforcement career with the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources as the Superintendent of Mill Bluff State Park and as a Conservation Warden. During
this time, he also worked as a Patrol Officer for the cities of Stoddard
and Necedah Police Departments. He worked as a part-time Dispatcher for the
City
of Tomah, Wisconsin and also as a Deputy Sheriff for the Juneau County Sheriff's Department. After two years, Officer
Berestoff assumed the Chief of Police position for the Camp Douglas Police
Department. Officer Berestoff held this position until relocating to Alaska. Officer
Berestoff attended the re-certification program at the Alaska Police Training Academy in Sitka
Alaska in
January 2001. He is currently certified as a Firearms Instructor and
a Glock Armorer. Officer Berestoff has served as a drug investigator for
the Western Alaska Alcohol Narcotics Team.
Officer Berestoff is currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a patrol
officer and serves as the Community Services Coordinator.
Officer David Bower
Officer
David Bower came to the Soldotna Police Department from Libby, Montana in March 2004. He lived in Alaska in his youth and always wanted to
return. Officer Bower began his Law Enforcement career as a reserve
deputy for the Lincoln
County Sheriff’s
Office in 1996. He was hired by the Libby Police Department as a patrolman in 1998, and attended
the 107th Session of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. In Libby, Officer Bower
received the following department commendations: Unit Citation, Combat
Action, and Meritorious Unit Commendation for his distinguished involvement
as an initial officer against an armed adversary in the Wolf Creek
Shootout; Distinguished Volunteer Service Cross; and Good Conduct.
Officer Bower attended the re-certification program at the Department of Public Safety Academy in Sitka,
Alaska in
January 2005. Officer Bower is currently assigned to the Patrol Division
for the Soldotna Police Department.
 Officer Aaron Renken
Officer Renken moved to the Kenai Peninsula in 1989, shortly after
receiving an Associate of Applied Science degree in Flight Technology from
Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. After some commercial
fishing and working in general construction, he attended the 7th session of
the State of Alaska's Law Enforcement Academy Training program located in Sitka, Alaska.
There, Officer Renken received a Certificate of Study in Law Enforcement
from the University
of Alaska Southeast.
Officer Renken spent 14 years working for the Unalaska Department of
Public Safety. He left that Department in November 2005 after
achieving the position of Patrol Sergeant, to join the force in
Soldotna. Officer Renken has an Advanced Police Officer Certificate
from the Alaska Police
Standards Council, is a Certified Police Instructor, and is also
certified to teach the DARE program. He currently is assigned to the Patrol
Division of the Soldotna Police Department.
Officer Victor Dillon
Officer Victor Dillon was hired by the Soldotna Police Department in
February 2007. Officer Dillon worked for the State of Alaska, Department of Corrections in Seward, for three and a half
years. He worked the Maximum Segregation unit, and was an assistant
Tactical Response Team leader, along with being a Prisoner Transportation
Officer. Officer Dillon graduated the State of Alaska's Law Enforcement Academy Training #37 in June 2007. In December
of 2008, Officer Dillon was awarded a Commendation for Exemplary
Performance for his actions during a shooting incident at the Central Peninsula Hospital
and is currently assigned to the Patrol Division of the Soldotna Police
Department.
 Officer Rory Espy
Officer Espy
began his career in law enforcement during high school as an
Explorer with the Alaska Peace Officers Association Explorer Post #460. He went
on to work as a Seasonal Enforcement Officer for the Kenai Police Department after graduating from Kenai Central High School.
Officer Espy next worked as a Corrections Officer and Prisoner
Transportation Officer at Spring Creek Correctional Center for two years. Officer Espy was
hired by the Soldotna Police Department in January 2008. He attended
the State of Alaska's Law Enforcement Academy Training, Session #39, graduating as
Valedictorian, and earning a Certificate of Study in Law Enforcement
through the University of Alaska
Southeast. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division of
the Soldotna Police Department.
Officer Derek
Urban
Officer
Derek Urban came to the Soldotna Police Department from Vernal, Utah in July of
2008. Officer Urban began his law enforcement career in 1987 as a Military
Police K-9 handler for the United States Marine Corps. After his military service he
was hired with the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office in Vernal, Utah. There he held many positions
including that of a correctional deputy, patrol deputy, S.W.A.T.
officer/sniper, and K-9 handler. He left his former department having
achieved the rank of Sergeant. Officer Urban has competed in several K-9
and sniper competitions, including an international sniper competition in
the country of Austria.
Officer Urban’s past service also includes time with the Uintah County Drug Court where he worked as an
administrator supervising drug offenders in rehabilitation. Officer Urban
is an International
Association of Chiefs of Police certified Drug Recognition
Expert Instructor as well as a firearms instructor. Officer Urban is currently
assigned to the Patrol division of the Soldotna Police Department and
recently became the Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer.
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