Dot Lake Village Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dot Lake Village Police Department Expands Public Safety Services with New Chief and Police Officer
DOT LAKE, ALASKA — June 2026 — The Native Village of Dot Lake is pleased to announce the hiring of Darrell Hildebrand as Chief of Police and the official transition of Doug Paradise as Tribal Police Officer with the Dot Lake Village Police Department.
Officer Paradise has been serving the Dot Lake community since July 2025 through a cooperative agreement with the Chickaloon Tribal Police Department. Effective June 1, 2026, Officer Paradise officially became an employee of the Native Village of Dot Lake, providing continuity of law enforcement services and strengthening the Tribe’s growing public safety infrastructure. During his time serving Dot Lake, Officer Paradise has worked closely with Tribal leadership, residents, and partner agencies to improve community safety and provide a consistent law enforcement presence in the Village.
Chief Hildebrand brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience to the Department. A retired Alaska State Trooper with over twenty years of service, he has extensive experience in criminal investigations, search and rescue operations, community policing, rural public safety, and collaboration with Tribal governments throughout Alaska. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with Alaska Native communities, schools, VPSOs, and local governments to address public safety concerns and develop community-based solutions.
“The addition of Chief Hildebrand and the transition of Officer Paradise to a permanent Dot Lake Village position represent major milestones for our community,” said Tracy Charles-Smith, President of the Dot Lake Village Council. “For many years, our residents have faced significant delays in receiving law enforcement services due to our remote location. Through the establishment of our own Tribal Police Department, we are creating a safer community while ensuring law enforcement services are provided by professionals who understand the needs and values of rural Alaska communities.”
The creation and expansion of the Dot Lake Village Police Department were made possible through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Program. The Department serves as a cornerstone of Dot Lake Village’s broader public safety strategy, which includes Tribal Court operations, victim advocacy services, behavioral health programming, domestic violence intervention services, Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) services, and community-based prevention initiatives.
The Department will continue working closely with Tribal, local, state, and federal partners to enhance public safety, support victims of crime, and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the community.
Grant Acknowledgment and Disclaimer
This project was supported by Grant No. 2023 OVW 15JOVW-23-GG-04491-TRIB awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The funding provided through this award supported the establishment and development of the Dot Lake Village Police Department.
The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
