Departing wildlife trooper receives detachment's highest awards

After two and a half years in Wrangell, Alaska Wildlife Trooper Chadd Yoder is preparing to transfer to Ketchikan. But before leaving, he received an unforgettable send-off from his fellow troopers.

Wildlife troopers from the division's Southern Detachment gathered Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Sourdough Lodge to honor their brethren with pins for years of service as well as awards in various categories. Anticipating that he would receive some sort of pin and a visit to his post from command staff for a farewell celebration, Yoder arrived with his wife Sabrina and their children Cyrus, Darius and Addy.

To his surprise, he received two additional honors: 2023 Trooper of the Year Award for the Southern Detachment, and a commendation for bravery for his actions responding to Wrangell's deadly landslide on Nov. 20.

Yoder's wife had known about her husband's awards for months. "Can I keep a secret?" she said with a laugh. "I didn't tell these kids until today, because they cannot keep secrets."

Sgt. Cody Lister said when he contacted people in town "on the down-low" to inform them of Yoder's upcoming accolades, there was a growing sense of excitement and residents wanted to spread the word to join in the celebration. "Chadd seems to really mean a lot to this community."

Before the ceremony, Col. Bernard Chastain, Alaska wildlife troopers director, said that among the 37 different locations that the division has around the state, Yoder's post is one of the smaller ones. He is the only trooper in town, with no corresponding state trooper.

A sizable gathering came to the ceremony. Both Chastain and the detachment commander, Capt. Derek DeGraaf, were on hand to preside over the event.

After presenting several pins for years of service and awards to other troopers from neighboring communities, Yoder was called to stand with Chastain and DeGraaf, whereupon they presented him with his award for trooper of the year as the most outstanding in his detachment. Chastain apologized to Yoder for the delay. "We've tried to get down here, I swear, multiple times," he said to the laughter of the audience. "Sorry that it's 2024."

Chastain spoke of Yoder's great working relationship with the town and surrounding areas, how he brought out the best in his fellow troopers, that his list of responsibilities was endless, and he excelled at each facet of the job.

"Being the sole trooper means that he is responsible for everything associated with the operation on the post, ranging from taking out post garbage, maintaining evidence, patrol activities, maintaining vessels, filing charges, representing the state in complex court cases, and it goes on and on," he said.

After receiving the award, Yoder prepared to return to his seat when Chastain called him back to present him with a commendation for his reaction and service after the landslide in November, providing vital assistance despite dangerous conditions.

"Throughout the 10-plus-day natural disaster response, Trooper Yoder worked tirelessly, not only as a dedicated trooper, but also as a member of this close-knit community," Chastain said.

DeGraff then presented Yoder with one final tribute: a going-away plaque. "This is the bittersweet part for us," he said, although he was glad that the trooper would remain in Southeast. "Ketchikan's getting another good trooper."

In his acceptance speech, Yoder said, "I remember when we first came to Wrangell in April 2021. Our household goods hadn't arrived yet. We didn't have beds. We had just basic, basic items. By the end of the day, we all had beds to sleep in. We had cooking utensils to cook with. My kids had toys to play with. And they came from neighbors, volunteer firefighters, the community, and it just really brought a sense of welcoming ... and you really set our time here in Wrangell up for success, and I really appreciate that. It's a bittersweet moment to move on. ... We've completely enjoyed our time here and thank you for your support tonight."

After the ceremony, Yoder admitted that the awards were a complete surprise but very welcome, and it meant a lot to him that his superior officers traveled from Anchorage to present him with the honor. "I knew there was probably like a send-off of sorts," he said, "but I certainly did not expect what I received there."

Yoder reports to his new position in Ketchikan on March 30. It's estimated that it will be a month before his replacement, Trooper Alisha Seward, currently based in Juneau, arrives in May, but others will fill in until her arrival. "There'll be troopers coming and going out of here," said Chastain, noting that two troopers are stationed in Petersburg.