Alaska's new public safety commissioner was reprimanded for sexual harassment of a female subordinate but the complaint was removed after an appeal.

Chuck Kopp said he was told not to "hug" an employee when he was chief of police in Kenai. He acknowledged he was friendly with the woman but denied any sort of harassment.

Kopp replaced Walt Monegan, who was abruptly fired by Gov. Sarah Palin (R) earlier this month. Monegan, who is Alaska Native, said he was pressured by Palin to fire a state trooper who was married to her sister.

Monegan sought to reduce high rates of sexual assaults and violent crime against Native women when he was in office. Palin has not said why she fired him, only saying she wanted to move the Department of Public Safety in a new direction.

Get the Story:
Kopp acknowledges harassment complaint (The Anchorage Daily News 7/23)
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New Alaska Public Safety commissioner denies sexual harassment claim (AP 7/23)

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