Talk about some absolutely heartbreaking news.
According to a press release sent out by the Alaska Department of Public Safety- Public Information Office, an Alaska State Troopers Court Services Officer, Curtis Worland, was killed during a muskox attack near Nome, Alaska.
Worland was trying to scare off a group of muskox that were near his dog kennel, when one attacked him.
He was declared dead on the scene.
Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell said in a statement:
“Curtis proudly wore the Court Services Officer uniform and honorably served the people of Alaska for 13 years. He was a proud member of the Nome community and a dedicated member of the Alaska law enforcement family.
I hope that Alaskans will keep Curtis’ family, friends, loved ones, and the Alaska State Troopers in your thoughts as we process this tragic loss for our state. He will be sorely missed by the DPS family.”
Worland had been a Court Service Officer in Alaska since December of 2009, and had worked with the Alaska State Trooper post for his entire career.
This is incredibly rare, considering muskox nearly never attack humans, although there have been multiple reports of them attacking sled dogs in Alaska over the past few years, according to Alaska Public Media.
The Alaska State Troopers shared in a Facebook post:
“We are deeply saddened to report that one of our own, Court Services Officer Curtis Worland, was tragically killed during a muskox attack near Nome earlier today.
CSO Worland was attempting to haze a group of muskox near his dog kennel at his home when he was attacked and fatally injured by a muskox.
CSO Worland proudly wore the Court Services Officer uniform and honorably served the people of Alaska for 13 years. He was a proud member of the Nome community and a dedicated member of the Alaska law enforcement family, and he will be sorely missed.”
RIP.
