Anchorage, AK－Today, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance was joined by members of the Anchorage Police Department (APD), Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) and other municipal leaders to share progress made over the last 80 days to improve public safety in Anchorage.
At a press conference at the Anchorage Fire Department Training Center, Mayor LaFrance illustrated her commitment to public safety. By working to address immediate crises, plan for future emergencies, and implement long-term strategies, the mayor and her team are working hard to build a safer, more resilient Anchorage.
“Keeping the public safe is my number one job as a leader," Mayor LaFrance said. “It is a job that requires enormous teamwork – many hands, many types of expertise, and many brave people who get up each day committed to making life safer for their neighbors."
Announcements at the press conference included:
- A now fully-staffed command structure at the APD, including newly named Deputy Chief of Operations Brian Wilson and Deputy Chief of Administration Gina Burington, increasing leadership, capacity, and experience;
- A new city Wildland Fire coordinator at AFD, Jon Glover, bringing experience, preparedness, and responsiveness to emergency fire management;
- A new lead Municipal Prosecutor, former Municipal Attorney Dennis Wheeler, who is returning to the Municipality to revitalize the Criminal Division and address its critical understaffing;
- A new key role in the Criminal Division for longtime prosecutor Dustin Pearson, focused on training and mentorship, to increase capacity for and ensure consistency in prosecution;
- The implementation of the Homeless Outreach, Prevention, & Engagement (HOPE) Team, a crisis intervention officer and social work navigator working in tandem to connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and services while improving community safety;
- A safe snow strategy led by the Municipal Manager Becky Windt Pearson, breaking down silos across municipal departments to ensure planning, personnel, fleet, budget, and communications staff are working together to guarantee preparedness, transparency, and coordination well in advance of the first flake.
“When people feel secure, they are more likely to take the steps necessary to housing," said Chief Sean Case. “Through H.O.P.E. team's efforts, APD will evaluate and refine our practices and outreach to Anchorage's unsheltered population with partners at the Municipality and outreach organizations like the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness."
"The potential for a major wildfire is one of the greatest risks facing our Municipality," said Chief Doug Schrage. “Our community can be reassured by the progress we have and will continue to make in addressing our risk."
The effort and coordination to implement these wide-ranging efforts within the first 100 days, from police and prosecution to fire and snow, reflect the mayor's commitment to improving the reliability and functionality of Anchorage's public safety systems.
“Part of being at home means feeling secure," Mayor LaFrance said. “Everyone who lives in Anchorage deserves safe streets and trails."
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Media Contact: Amanda K. Moser
907-615-7852
Amanda.K.Moser@anchorageak.gov