Hemmen v. State, Department of Public Safety

OPINION

BURKE, Justice.

Richard Hemmen resigned his position with the Alaska Department of Public Safety after the Department threatened to fire him for refusing to accept a transfer to another location. His action for reinstatement, payment of back pay and accrued benefits was dismissed when the superior court, granting partial summary judgment, concluded that Hemmen’s resignation was voluntary. Hemmen petitioned for review.

I. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

In August 1976, Hemmen began working for the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Protection (“Department”) in Fairbanks.…