Ketchikan Police Chief Resigns Amid Felony Assault Charges

Ketchikan police chief Jeffrey Walls, will be resigning in exchange for the dismissal of felony assault charges against him. Walls faced charges following an incident in September 2022 at the Salmon Falls Resort, where he was accused of assaulting a man. The allegations state that when the guy purposely tripped into Walls and his wife’s chairs, Walls shoved him against a wall and placed him in a chokehold.

Delilah Walsh, the city manager of Ketchikan, confirmed that Walls was placed on leave in January 2023 but was later reinstated. His departure was announced just before the jury trial scheduled for September 10, which has now been postponed.

The situation unfolded when Alaska State Troopers responded to allegations of an attack at the resort. The troopers initially thought Walls was the victim. When they exited the resort, they found Walls unharmed, while the actual victim emerged with a severe head wound.

According to the charges, the situation escalated when a drunk man accidentally bumped into Walls and his wife’s seats. Walls allegedly chased the man, shoved him against a stone wall, and choked him for up to two minutes. Witnesses stated that the man was having difficulty breathing and that he was red in the face during the incident. Several individuals had to remove Walls from the victim over more than thirty seconds; the victim later required stitches for a cut on his forehead.

Ketchikan police chief Jeffrey Walls wasn’t working when the event happened. He resigned as a condition of the charges being dropped, leaving Ketchikan in search of a new leader. Ketchikan’s police chief, Jeffrey Walls, has resigned after intense criticism. 

This news story was originally published by Alaska News Source.