Just a day before his 21st birthday, Son Erikson was sworn in as Nome’s newest police officer. He was joined by family, city staff and fellow members of the Nome Police Department on the morning of September 18 for the ceremony.
After graduating from Nome-Beltz in 2024, Erikson pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Alaska Anchorage. During a visit to Nome, Erikson said he started talking with Nome Police Department Chief Mike Heintzelman about a long-term return to Nome.
“I got to talking with the chief in the gym one day, and I really just thought no better place than home,” Erikson said.
Erikson has already spent several months shadowing other NPD officers. While he’s the youngest member of the department, Heintzelman said he’s already got a leg-up on more senior officers from outside the region.
“He knows every street. He knows every location. He knows the people. So if he gets a call at a certain location, he’s going to know which way is the fastest way to go,” Heintzelman said.
For years, the Nome Common Council has implored police leadership to bring in more local officers. Heintzelman said the hire of Erikson is a step in the right direction, but filling positions remains difficult. Erikson will serve the same two week on, two week off rotation as officers from outside the region. For now, he’s working 12 hour graveyard shifts without weekends.
Next year, Erikson will undergo a 15 week training program at the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka. Upon completion in May, he’ll return to Nome and begin serving full-time.
“I’m just extremely excited to serve, protect, give back to the people that raised me, people that made me who I am,” he said.
