The Anchorage Police Department says it is moving from education to enforcement of new laws banning camping and inappropriate behavior.
People rest in the shade at Peratrovich Park near historic City Hall in downtown Anchorage on Wednesday, June 3. Police say they arrested dozens of people in downtown Anchorage over a nearly monthlong period ending in May, part of an ongoing push to enforce the municipality’s new public nuisance laws.1,970 contacts with people for issues that included public intoxication, illegal camping and indecent exposure between April 8 and May 4, police Lt.
Brian Fuchs told members of the Anchorage Assembly Public Health and Safety Committee during a meeting Wednesday. Of those, Fuchs said about 920 contacts were either for violations of Anchorage’s camping ban or behavior city leadersto address concerns that parts of the municipality are unsafe or unwelcoming.
The camping ban was passed by the Assembly While most people voluntarily complied with orders to correct their behavior or move on, Fuchs said officers made 76 arrests over that time period, including two dozen involving existing warrants. Anchorage’s homeless population. Supporters of the changes said they help ensure that residents and visitors can safely use the city’s sidewalks, parks and other public spaces.
A shopping cart with personal belongings sits on a sidewalk near Town Square Park on Wednesday, June 3. Fuchs said the patrols also allow officers to reach out to people without arresting them to offer resources or other support.
“It’s a great way for us to see a violation and just have a conversation with an individual,” he said Wednesday. “It gives us a little bit more ability to go a little deeper in the conversation.
” In addition to camping ban violations, Fuchs told the committee, police documented hundreds of occurrences of public intoxication or drug use, more than 200 trespassing incidents, and over 80 instances of threatening or menacing behavior, actions that interfered with the public’s ability to enjoy public spaces or indecent exposure. People sit in the shade at Town Square Park on a 70-degree day on Wednesday, June 3.
Enforcement efforts, Fuchs said, have been concentrated on Anchorage’s downtown area, where police increased its presence through two-officer foot patrol details in April. He told the committee that he didn’t have citywide contact and arrest numbers readily available. Romero said she was working to provide that information on Wednesday afternoon.
The downtown enforcement effort Fuchs detailed was launched as part of Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s push to revitalize that area of the city,The measure criminalizing certain undesirable conduct, supporters have said, armed police with an additional tool to contact people and push them toward services, such as shelter housing or detox facilities. Some of those contacted during the downtown patrols included people who officers spoke with more than once, though Fuchs said he didn’t have further details about how frequently that happened.
But many of those who police contacted were reluctant to accept help, he said. During the nearly monthlong period ending in May, just 42 people accepted offers for services, he said, and about 180 others were taken to Anchorage’s intoxication sleep-off center.
“Not too many people are taking those services,” Fuchs said. “At that point, we generally have to leverage the judicial system to ensure they comply. ” Now that police have focused on warnings and educating the public about the new laws, he said, “arrest numbers are going to go up pretty significantly” as police ramp up enforcement efforts. Chris Aadland is a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News covering breaking news, Indigenous issues and general assignments.
He has previously reported for the Confederated Umatilla Journal, Underscore Native News/Indian Country Today, Montana Free Press, Casper Star-Tribune and Wisconsin State Journal. Contact him at caadland@adn.com.
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