By Marcia Kuszmaul

Homer Independent Press

Officer Michael Scanlon, right, with Officer Kaleb Harvey, left, and Officer Brad Gullikson, center, at the Homer Police Station in September 2025. (Photo provided by City of Homer)

Officer Michael Scanlon will be Homer’s new chief of police. His appointment was announced at Monday’s Homer City Council meeting.

Scanlon joined the Homer Police Department in July 2025. He retired from the Bellingham, Washington, Police Department in December 2021 after nearly 29 years, with wide experience serving in and supervising multiple units.

“I had no intent to get back into policing,” he said. But an opportunity with the Homer department came up, and he applied.

“We are pleased to be promoting our own Officer Michael Scanlon to Police Chief,” Melissa Jacobsen, city manager, said. “His extensive law enforcement background, administrative experience and familiarity with Homer make him the right choice to lead our department.”

Jacobsen said Chief Mark Robl and Chief Scanlon will work together to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of the Department’s service to the community. 

The police chief position was posted from Nov. 18, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, with national and in-state advertising. Four applicants, including two from in state, received additional questions. The top two candidates, both in state, met with an advisory panel on Jan. 23, before individual interviews with Jacobsen. Scanlon was selected as the top candidate.

“Homer is a wonderful town,” Scanlon said. “We like the people. We have no problem with the snow. It’s a great fit, wonderful crew and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Scanlon will be Homer’s sixth police chief since the department’s founding in 1968. He will follow Chief Robl, whose last official day is March 19. According to the department’s web site, Robl, who was appointed on May 11, 1999, is the current longest serving chief in Alaska.

“We are deeply grateful for Chief Robl’s years of dedicated service and confident that our department will continue to excel under incoming Chief Scanlon’s leadership,” Jacobsen said.