After a relative presented troopers with an official document signed by a state judge, Alaska’s 2022 Principal of the year was mistakenly taken into custody by state troopers.
Troopers and Alaska Court System confirmed that this was not true. It happened six days after Colony High School Principal Mary Fulp uploaded a video showing the incident. She claimed she was being held because of her religious beliefs.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety commissioner James Cockrell has ordered an internal investigation into the incident.
“Based on what we know from the Alaska Court System about the incident, it seems that we made an error in transporting the adult male for evaluation. Cockrell stated in writing that staff should have taken further steps to verify information provided by the complainant as well as the validity of the court orders. “We accept full responsibility for this incident and want to assure you that we will take all necessary steps to prevent it from happening again.” This kind of situation is unacceptable. I promise that we will improve.
After Anchorage’s KTUU-TV published the story about it, Rep. David Eastman (R-Wasilla) and Sen. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) spoke to the state Legislature about this issue.
In an email to KTUU’s Tuesday story, Rebecca Koford, a spokesperson from the court system, stated that “The court didn’t issue any order to take Ms. Fulp in custody, detain or have her hospitalized for any reason.” “The actions of law enforcement in this case were not taken or performed pursuant to or as the result of any court orders.”
Hours later, the Alaska State Troopers issued an account of Jan. 18 events that saw Fulp being taken to a Matanuska Susitna Borough hospital for a mental evaluation.
According to troopers, they received a call Wednesday morning asking for Fulp welfare checks.
The State Law allows police and mental health professionals to involuntarily detain someone if they “likely cause serious harm to themselves or others immediately.”
Troopers arrived and determined that Fulp didn’t meet the criteria for emergency mental healthcare custody. A second caller called hours later and said that Fulp had received a written order from the judge authorizing Fulp to be taken into custody for mental health evaluations.
According to the official account, Troops observed that the document appeared signed by a judge.
Unaffiliated with this case, but an attorney who was familiar with the state’s procedures for mental health commitment said that it should have raised a red flag.
Normal course of events dictates that a petitioner seeking to involuntarily place someone under custody for mental health reasons must present evidence to a judge. The judge will then seek advice from a doctor if the petitioner is not one.
An independent third party interviews the person who is subject to the proposed order and then informs the judge. If the judge orders that the person be committed, the judge contacts the public safety officials. The petitioner is not involved.
Koford stated that she does not have any documents related to the events of 18th. However, “when there is an Order, we send local Law Enforcement a Request for Transport, and that’s what they use.”
Koford stated that “no request was made” in this instance.
Friday’s Beacon requested copies of the court order after receiving a tip claiming the order was false. The Beacon was informed by state law that these records are confidential and that the request would likely be denied.
Troopers claim that Troopers was informed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety on Friday, January 20, 2023 that Troopers documents may not have been court orders authorizing involuntary marriage of an adult female. DPS Commissioner Cockrell ordered an investigation into the incident.
Although the Troopers were denied access to the documents related to the incident by the court system, Tuesday’s court system statement confirmed that mistake.
Troopers stated that they now believe that Troopers’ document was invalid and a court order for involuntary committment was not valid.
Governor. Mike Dunleavy proposed amendments to state laws governing involuntary commits for mental health reasons. The Legislature adopted the changes last year. These changes don’t seem to have been made in the last week’s incident.
The spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety refused to comment on whether the family member intentionally falsified documents or if the error was an innocent one. A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety declined to comment on whether any charges were pending.
The Alaska Beacon originally published this story. It is republished with permission.
