INFORMATION RELEASE

On July 14^th, 2024 at about 6:44 a.m., the Juneau Police Department received a report of an assault in the 200 block of S. Franklin Street. The complainant reported that Steven Kissack had been sitting in front of a private entrance, blocking the area.  The complainant asked Kissack to move, but he refused. When the complainant started to call the police, Kissack stood up, came at the complainant, punched him in the face, and continued to try and grab, kick, and punch them. JPD responded to the area, but Kissack had already left the area and officers were unable to locate him.

On July 15^th, 2024, at about 1:11 p.m., a Juneau Police Officer saw Kissack sitting in front of a business in the 200 block of Front Street. The officer approached Kissack to speak with him about the assault that took place the previous day. When the officer contacted Kissack, he was sitting on the ground, holding a knife. The officer asked Kissack to put down the knife while they talked, but he refused.

The officer spoke with Kissack for about six minutes, before Kissack abruptly stood up with the knife in his hand and started walking toward the officer in a threatening manner. The officer backed away from Kissack, removed his handgun from the holster, and ordered Kissack to put down the knife.

Kissack continued to hold the knife and walked toward the officer in a threatening manner. The officer called for emergency backup. The officer told Kissack that he was under arrest and repeatedly told Kissack to put the knife down. Kissack responded by saying he would die first and that he would kill the officer.

The officer continuously backed away from Kissack, but Kissack kept walking toward the officer, with the knife in his hand.

Over the next nine minutes, officers, as well as bystanders, attempted to talk with Kissack, but he refused to put down the knife.

After more than fifteen minutes from the initial contact, Kissack told officers to stop pointing guns at him, otherwise he was going to kill them. Kissack started to walk toward one of the officers, saying, I’m going to come kill you.

Officers then deployed several less lethal munitions at Kissack, which struck him, but he continued to walk toward them with the knife in his hand. Kissack then charged at the officers while brandishing his knife.

Two law enforcement officers discharged their firearms and Kissack was struck. Despite lifesaving efforts by law enforcement on scene and Capital City Fire/Rescue, Kissack was declared deceased at a Juneau area hospital.

In accordance with JPD policy, the name of the JPD officer who discharged his firearm is being released. He is identified as:

• Sergeant Chris Gifford - 25 years of law enforcement experience, with 23 years of service with the Juneau Police Department.

Three other JPD officers were present during this incident. They are identified as:

• Officer Terry Allen - 26 years of law enforcement experience, with 23 years of service with JPD.
• Officer Lee Phelps - 18 years of law enforcement experience, with 15 years of service with JPD.
• Officer Tim Kissner - 2.5 years of law enforcement service, all of which with JPD.

The name of the other Law Enforcement officer who discharged their firearm was previously released per Department of Public Safety policy.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is continuing its thorough investigation into the incident. Once their investigation is complete, it will be independently reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.

The Office of Special Prosecutions (OSP) is responsible for reviewing all officer-involved shootings in Alaska. More information about the role of OSP in Officer Involved Shootings may be found here: Officer Involved Shooting Investigations - July 17 Press Conference (alaska.gov)