The Alaska State Troopers on Wednesday named the force’s first Black colonel, at a moment when the organization continues to confront challenges in both diversity and overall staffing.
Maurice “Mo” Hughes will oversee approximately 350 sworn troopers statewide in his new role as colonel. It’s part of a leadership shift in response to Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Leon Morgan’s retirement after 25 years of service.
Current AST director Col. Bryan Barlow will replace Morgan, with Hughes – who currently oversees troopers in Southeast Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula – moving into Barlow’s position.
State public safety officials emphasized Hughes’ wide variety of experience, ranging from service as a K9 handler and firearms instructor to supervising court service officers and working with troopers’ recruitment team.
“Colonel Hughes is the first African American to serve as the Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers or serve above the rank of Captain,” officials said in a statement. “Colonel Hughes began his career with the Alaska State Troopers in 1990, and since his appointment, he has worked in Soldotna, Delta Junction, Kodiak, and Anchorage.”
On Wednesday Hughes thanked African Americans who rose before him within AST including the first Black trooper, retired Lt. Ed Rhodes, and troopers’ first two Black captains, Simon Brown and Tony April.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve Alaskans as the Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers and lead the nation’s most elite law enforcement agency into the future,” Hughes said in the statement. “Becoming the first African American Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers is a historical moment and represents the diversity of the Alaska State Troopers.”
Hughes takes over a force which has remained overwhelmingly white in recent years. State officials acknowledged in 2020 that despite ongoing efforts to diversify recruitment, 87.3% of troopers were white – a percentage which has risen slightly as of May to 88.1%.
During the same time period Alaska Native and American Indian troopers fell from 4.8% to 3.7% of the force with Black troopers falling from 3.1% to 2.9%, according to payroll data reported by troopers. Hispanic troopers rose from 3.4% of the force to 4%, while Asian and biracial troopers remained at 1.1% and 0.3% of the ranks respectively.
The force has also faced ongoing concerns related to retention, with positions across much of Western Alaska understaffed by 22% last year according to a study commissioned by the department. Troopers in affected posts including Bethel, Dillingham, Kodiak, Kotzebue and Nome told researchers the shortfalls have led to some crimes – including alcohol and drug-related cases, as well as some property crimes – not being investigated.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday hailed troopers as “the tip of the spear for law enforcement service across the state.”
“The appointment of Bryan Barlow and Mo Hughes to these leadership roles will continue the tradition of excellence that DPS is known for, and I look forward to working with them,” he said.
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Chris Klint is a web producer and breaking news reporter at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cklint@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Chris here.
