Anchorage Daily News

Gov. Sarah Palin named Joseph Masters to head the state Department of Public Safety on Friday.

"Joe Masters brings more than two decades of Alaska law enforcement experience to the Department of Public Safety," Palin said in a press release. "Both the department and all Alaskans will be well-served by his professionalism and knowledge of all facets of the organization."

Masters, 44, had more than 20 years' experience with the department before joining Doyon Universal Services, where he is security director for petrochemical operations.

He began his law enforcement career in Unalaska, where he graduated from high school. He joined the Alaska State Troopers and worked his way up to become deputy director from June 2003 to May 2005.

Masters takes over the department from acting commissioner John Glass. Masters is the state's third public safety commissioner in the past two months. Chuck Kopp resigned after 14 days on the job in late July amid accusations of sexual harassment in a previous job.

Kopp succeeded Walt Monegan, whom Palin fired earlier in July. That firing is at the heart of the "Troopergate" investigation.

Masters will take over a department scarred by the scandal and recent publicity. His first goal is to take a fresh look at it and see what it needs, in terms of operation, staffing and budget, he said in a telephone interview Friday night.

His selection was largely the work of a six-person review committee set up by Palin, he said.

Asked whether the governor discussed her vision of the department with him, he said, "Gov. Palin didn't give me any guidance or direction or mandates for the department."

Palin has previously said she fired Monegan because he wasn't doing enough to fight alcohol and drug abuse in the Bush and to recruit troopers, two areas that have been perpetual problems for the troopers long before this administration.

Masters is a shareholder in the Bering Straits Native Corp.

Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.

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