INFORMATION RELEASE

On July 15, 2024, at 1:11 pm, a Juneau Police Officer contacted Steven Kissack in the 200 block of Front Street.  The officer was attempting to speak with Kissack who was an alleged suspect in an assault that occurred at a downtown apartment building on July 14, 2024.  During the initial contact Kissack held a knife and refused to follow requests and orders from the officer to put the knife down.  The officer immediately called upon his training and skills in de-escalation and began attempts to defuse the situation with Kissack.  Even as the officer backed away, Kissack approached him in an increasingly aggressive manner, still displaying the knife.

The Juneau Police Officer requested additional law enforcement officers to respond for assistance, and a Juneau-based Alaska Wildlife Trooper and several JPD Officers responded to the scene.  Officers negotiated with Kissack for over 10 minutes, but he continued to refuse to comply.  Ultimately, Juneau Police Officers deployed less-lethal munitions to encourage Kissack to comply with their orders to relinquish the knife. Kissack continued to refuse to relinquish the knife and charged at the officers while brandishing the weapon. Multiple law enforcement officers discharged their weapons striking Kissack. Despite lifesaving efforts by law enforcement on scene and Capital City Fire Rescue, Kissack was declared deceased at a Juneau area hospital. No law enforcement officers or bystanders were injured. Kissack’s body will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. His next of kin have been notified.  Kissack’s beloved dog, Juno, was taken by an acquaintance and is being cared for by Juneau Animal Rescue.

The Juneau Police Department requested that the Alaska Bureau of Investigation take the lead in investigating this incident.  Upon the completion of ABI’s investigation, the Office of Special Prosecutions will review the case to make a final determination as to if the use of lethal force was justified or not.

The Juneau Police Officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. In accordance with JPD policy, the names of the officers involved in this incident will not be released until after they have been interviewed by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation as part of the formal investigation into this incident.  The Alaska Wildlife Trooper has been placed on 72-hours of administrative leave in accordance with DPS policy, and their name will be released on Thursday, July 18^th in accordance with their policy.

This is a regretful event for everyone involved.  We recognize that friends throughout our community, and family far away, will be mourning the loss of Kissack in the days to come.  Thank you to all the members of our community who have come together to support the myriad of individuals affected by this incident.