Juneau Police Name Officers Involved in Deadly Shooting

JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) – A Juneau police officer who was one of two officers who fatally shot a homeless man in Alaska’s capital last week has more than 20 years of experience, authorities said.

Juneau police have released the names of the four department officers involved in the fatal shooting that killed 35-year-old Steven Kissak on July 15.

Kissack lived homeless and was well known in the city, as was his dog Juno.

Police said Sgt. Chris Gifford fired his weapon during the shooting, as did Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Branden Forst.

Three other JPD officers were at the scene but did not fire any shots, the department said.

According to the department, Gifford has 25 years of law enforcement experience, including 23 years with the Juneau department.

Also involved in the incident were:

• Officer Terry Allen (26 years of law enforcement experience, 23 years with JPD)
• Officer Lee Phelps (18 years law enforcement experience, 15 years with JPD)
• Officer Tim Kissner (2.5 years of law enforcement experience, all with JPD)

Police also provided more details about the incident, which began more than a day earlier when police received a report of a man sitting in front of a private entrance and “blocking the area” on South Franklin Street shortly before 7 a.m. on July 14.

The report states that someone reported Kissack to police after he was asked to step aside and refused. The person claimed Kissack stood up and punched him in the face and “continued to try to grab, kick and punch them.”

Juneau police arrived on the scene but reported that Kissack was gone by the time they arrived.

The next day, a Monday, Kissack was seen by an officer on Front Street. The officer approached Kissack, who was sitting on the ground with a knife, and asked him to drop it.

After approximately six minutes, Kissack stood up and “began walking toward the officer in a threatening manner.”

After calling for backup, the officer told Kissack he was under arrest. Kissack responded, “He was going to die first, and then he was going to kill the officer.”

According to police, nine minutes passed while officers and bystanders attempted to defuse the situation with Kissack. Kissack reportedly refused to drop the knife, at which point he fired pellets at Kissack.

In a video posted by a bystander, Kissack can be seen flinching from the bullets and then charging toward the officers, who then shot Kissack.

Kissack later died at a Juneau hospital after emergency responders attempted to save him.

Members of the Juneau community held a series of protests at the Juneau Public Library and the Capitol on Sunday.

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