Senate panel forwards Michael Craig to joint session for Police Standards Council slot

Chair Kawasaki opened the committee’s confirmation hearing for Michael Craig, the governor’s appointee to the Alaska Police Standards Council, and invited him to describe his experience.

Michael Craig told the committee he has served on the Lehi Police Standards Council since 2017 and described roughly four decades working on the Trans‑Alaska Pipeline, including 33 years in roles tied to security and 10 years in corporate security at Alyeska. He said his civilian work includes investigating code‑of‑conduct violations, harassment and discrimination and that he holds a professional certified investigator credential.

Senator Grama Jackson asked Craig about a 2021 package of police reform bills she sponsored. Craig said he did not recall the precise bills by number but expressed support for transparency measures, including making public‑safety policies available online.

Chair Kawasaki asked Craig about body‑worn cameras and whether unredacted footage should be released. Craig said he supports camera use for context and transparency but cautioned release decisions are nuanced and may need to be considered on a case‑by‑case basis to protect privacy and investigations.

After opening and closing public testimony (no speakers), Vice Chair Bjorkman moved to forward Craig’s appointment to the joint session for consideration. With no objections, the committee approved the motion and paperwork was to be signed after adjournment.

The committee’s action forwards the nomination for the next stage of review; no final confirmation occurred in this meeting.