Anchorage, AK －Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and Chief of Police Sean Case announce a series of actions that will be taken in response to the officer-involved shooting on August 13 and the five prior officer-involved shootings that have occurred in Anchorage this year.
“We cannot and we will not accept this as a new normal in Anchorage," said Mayor LaFrance. “We lost a young person in our community who should have been starting her first day of school today. We cannot take back the pain associated with this loss, but we can do everything in our power to make sure this doesn't happen again in Anchorage."
1) Investigations
The internal investigation of the August 13 incident will be completed by a third-party investigator.
Officer-involved shootings are typically investigated within APD by APD Internal Affairs. The mayor has directed that the investigation into the August 13 incident be conducted by an outside investigator.
The State of Alaska's Office of Special Prosecutions will continue to oversee the criminal investigation of the incident to determine if criminal charges against officers are warranted.
A third party will conduct a comprehensive review of APD's training, tactics, and supervision and make recommendations for change.
An outside entity will audit APD's policies and practices and recommend changes to reduce officer-involved shootings. Unlike internal investigations or the courts, the outside entity will not limit its analysis to what is legally permissible. The entity will prepare a public report so that the community has visibility into the changes within the department.
The mayor has tasked the Municipal Attorney's Office with managing these investigations.
“We've got to figure out what is going on and these investigations are about getting a clear understanding of the facts and charting a path forward for the department and entire community," said Mayor LaFrance.
2) Community Involvement
APD will establish a community advisory committee.
Chief Case will create the committee via a new APD policy. The committee will provide the community a formal role in advising APD.
“We know there is a lot of pain and anger right now, and a lot of work to do to make sure everyone feels safe in our community. We must engage with community members to do that, especially members of the BIPOC community, as we know that these shootings disproportionately impact people of color. We are committed to listening to the community, learning, and taking action." Mayor LaFrance said.
3) Departmental Changes at APD
Chief Case announces a series of internal departmental actions that were already underway prior to the incident.
- APD has assigned a Lieutenant to review the past 15 years of data on officer-involved shootings, which will be shared in a public report.
- A newly-promoted Captain, who is stepping into his role on August 26, will focus efforts on Police Academy training and continuing education emphasizing de-escalation techniques and critical thinking tactics.
- APD has increased its communications capacity and is making communication a priority, to ensure that the public receives clear and timely updates as changes are made and findings are made public.
“As police officers, we strive to protect human life," said Chief Case. “When we don't meet that goal, it is a tragedy. We are committed to demonstrating that our department is here to protect and serve the people of Anchorage."
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Media Contact: Amanda K. Moser
907-615-7852
Amanda.K.Moser@anchorageak.gov