Dennis Finbar Cronin

Alaska State Troopers — Anchorage, AK

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 18, 1974

Age 31

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Trooper Dennis Cronin was shot and killed in Anchorage, Alaska, by an informant while assigned to a Drug Enforcement Task Force. He was meeting with the informant in his squad car when the shooting took place. The suspect then committed suicide with his motives never known. Trooper Cronin was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Alaska State Troopers for almost four years. He was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and a step-son, who he was in the process of adopting. His wife gave birth to a son a few months after his death. Trooper Cronin is the first Alaska State Trooper to die in the line of duty.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and a step-son, who he was in the process of adopting.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AK-7460A4A2
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Cronin gave the Alaska State Troopers 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Alaska, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Alaska State Troopers

Location Anchorage, AK

Platform Identity alasgov.anchorage.ak.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 18, 1974

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

Dennis Finbar Cronin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Dennis Finbar Cronin is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AK, 35 of 50 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this state's fallen. That is 15.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Alaska State Troopers, 7 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.3% of this agency's fallen.

Alaska State Troopers

of 12 officers

58.3% Felonious

AK — Statewide

of 50 officers

70% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious