Alaska State Troopers, Alaska
End of Watch: Friday, January 10, 1997
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 21 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: January 10, 1997
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 142 years
Trooper Bruce Heck was killed in a fight with a man on Glenn Highway, near milepost 156, during a traffic stop.
The suspect had robbed a store, beat the owner, and had stolen a taxi before engaging in a high-speed chase with Trooper Heck. After crashing the vehicle, the man fled on foot. Another trooper who responded to Trooper Heck's call for backup found his body approximately 150 yards off the highway, lying face up in the snow.
The suspect was arrested approximately 20 minutes later by the first backup unit who arrived. The man had just been released from prison 48 hours earlier after serving a five-year sentence for escape.
On March 3rd, 1998, the man was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of robbery, two counts of assault, one count of escape, and one count of vehicle theft. He was subsequently sentenced to 142 years in prison.
Trooper Heck had served with the Alaska State Troopers for 21 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.