The deputy communications director for the Anchorage Police Department has resigned following a shoplifting incident at Target.
In a social media post, Chris Barraza acknowledged the misdemeanor charge and explained his decision to step down. “This is one of the hardest and most humbling things I’ve ever had to share,” he wrote. “Because of the position I held, I know this may become public, and I want you to hear it from me directly. I made a mistake. While shopping at Target, not all of my items were scanned, and because I was wearing logo wear, that mistake has now led to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge. Out of respect for my position and the community, I chose to resign. I want to be clear: I take full responsibility. I made a poor decision, and I will carry the weight of it. I’ve always believed in owning my actions, even when they are painful and disappointing.”
Despite the unusualness of the situation, the story has drawn no coverage from mainstream Alaska outlets.
If the same incident had occurred under a Republican administration, media outlets would likely have covered it aggressively. The silence is an example of the double standard in how political affiliations and administrations shape press treatment of embarrassing scandals.
Is this person a “sworn” officer???
He is not a sworn law enforcement officer. He is an administrative staff employee who acts as the spokesperson the APD.
His explanation is almost laughable. His claim that the reason he was charged was because he was wearing an APD logo and that some of his article were not scanned is simply a lie. That’s They were not scanned because he hid them on his person.
Even though it may only be a misdemeanor the prosecutors should make an example of him and throw the book at him.
So what does “logo wear” have to do with anything?
Could he have gotten away with stealing if he wasn’t wearing it?
Yes, I think as a ‘civilian’ (so to speak) he would have gotten away w/ this petty theft, everyone else does.
The theft was on the 19th, the police looked at it 2 days later.
I think Target security saw the APD jacket on a thief while reviewing security tape & called it in to APD.
When the cops came, they saw their ‘spokesperson’ stealing.
What is a “Deputy Communications Director” anyway. Does it take more than one position/person to blather on TV news? Just snickering at the position title because I performed years of position classification analysis at the federal and local level. Must be an appointed “Special Administrative Assistant” for the Muni. This event certainly attests to current hiring standards, especially for the Ankoraje POleece Department. SNORT!
Another example of the rainbow mafia cult
‘https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2656809761055015&set=a.529130930489586
Per his profile at that link, he is working for the Alaska Federal Crefit Union. Why would a credit union hire a thief?
Regardless of whether you’re wearing logo wear or not it should always be a charge
Sounds like an honest mistake. Why over react and resign from a job for something so trivial? Sounds like there may be more to the story.
Aside from that, we as customers are now expected to stop for door security every time we leave because the true criminals were never held accountable and it always seems to be the innocent who pay for the crimes of the guilty.
What kind of twisted society are we living in anyways?
Honest mistake? Really. If it was in his cart it would have been scanned. If it was not and he did nothing to hide the items then there would be no charges. If they were not in the cart then it was because he hid them on his person.
As the face of APD wearing its logo he should be treated even more harshly. This was not an innocent mistake.
Try shopping at Fred Meyers with their clerks on a power trip who manage self check out. Some of them are really doing their job, others are in power trips. This zealotry to block people, make people wait in line for over 10 minutes, be hateful to someone because you think their privileged has got to end. Everyone has a cross to bear. No one is disposable. He should not have resigned.
Read his last sentence carefully: “I made a poor decision”… he there admits he did it. But props to him for owning his “poor decision”.
He made a poor decision? Yeah sure. He decided to hide it up his left sleeve when he should have decided to hide it up his right sleeve!
We live in a society where, among other things, many people think that admitting their mistake makes everything okay. You are stopped at the grocery store exit by security because of losers like the one described in this article.
“Honest mistake”? Give me a break….
Sorry, I had interpreted his statement as if he had made an error when scanning his goods. Like perhaps he thought he had scanned an item, put it in the cart and moved on.
I guess in reality he KNEW he was attempting to steal and that willfully committing the crime was a mistake. The next question is why would someone who clearly makes enough money to shop at Target, try to steal anything from there at all? Was he possessed.
Still more to this story I say, but thank you for the correction.
“maybe more to the story”
This person thought they could steal easily while wearing his “APD” coat
Target security noticed the jacket & APD came to look at video 2 days later.
APD saw their spokesman stealing on film.
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LAFRANCE RESIGN IMMEDIATELY GOD MOCKERS HAVE BECOME THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT. SUZANNE YOUR AWESOME FUN MA’AM
Okay…so what does logo wear have to do with anything? I also fail to see the relevance of politics in this.
Reviewing security tapes w/ shoplifters on them is very common.
BUT, this particular footage had a thief, w/ an APD coat on, so they called the cops in (2 days later) to a look.
That is why he says the “logo wear” got him in trouble.
The cops would not have been called in if mot for the APD jacket.
“ I made a mistake. While shopping at Target, not all of my items were scanned, and because I was wearing logo wear, that mistake has now led to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge.”
This clown writes this, then says he takes full responsibility. The above statement is not taking full responsibility. He minimized his behavior and tried to sell it as an accident. He is right about one thing, we all make mistakes, including APD hiring Mr. Barraza.
His LinkedIn profile says he went to Harvard. Very sus.
Who cares if he went to Harvard. He was caught shoplifting AND THAT’s What IT IS..You can sugar coat it for whatever you desire..iF HE was embarresed to show what he bought..It still is NOT an excuse. You can name it for what is was..SHOPLIFTING asnd STEALING as a deputy.
The former president of Anchorage Pride? No way!
Law enforcement in Anchorage is terrible, and people like this are the reason.
Whether it’s shooting Catholic children in MN or shoplifting at Target, you don’t have to look much further than the LGBQT community. Good job, dipstick.
In Dubai they would chop
His hand off..
Honestly, don’t think anyone cares, right or left.
I watched the most normal mom with 3 daughters do the same thing in front of me at the self checkout at Target. Part of me is “shame on you”, and the other part of me completely understands with the constant rise in prices.
Hmmmm…interesting. I do. Care. I do hope no one in my community will be part of the estimated 10%. In Anchorage anyway, still able to enjoy a few more summer days. Ahhhh, lovely.
He was making way too much money to be shoplifting at Target! LOL
It’s called, “stealing”. What’s wrong with you? It’s not normal even tho businesses let it happen. They just raise prices. It’s still, what’s the word? Oh, yea, “WRONG”!
Yes Suzanne, most will never see the truth , and just lick the tainted pablum from the TDS infected spoons. Others do not care about anything beyond themselves.
Thank you for reporting and calling out the political bias.
Mr. Barraza has shown more character than the pretend media by owning his
illegal action. There is hope for him.
He only owned up because he got caught. Now it turns out he’s been stealing regularly since before he was even hired by APD. Compulsion caused by mental illness?
What are you on about?! Alaska is under a republican administration. Unless Dunleavy has stepped down and Anchorage is no longer what it was 3 months ago. It appears the only one pushing an agenda is you. If you want the man punished more, than take it up with your congressman, who is republican.
APD is under the Municipality of Anchorage, not the state. Last time I checked, the MOA Assembly is liberal/left-wing as all heck, and the mayor is a liberal democrat too. Dunleavy doesn’t control the APD anymore than LaFrance controls the Ak State Troopers. Don’t try to shift focus off the MOA and its problems by blaming the state, and by trying to drag Representative Begich into it.
Congressmen, Senators and the Governor don’t run Anchorage, dummy.
I do agree. We absolutely and obviously have a uniparty, even in Alaska. However, things are about to change round here, round here. (I apologize, part of lyrics to a song in my brain.) Well truthfully and realistically, it may take a little longer. It is also helpful to hear and read different points of view so thank you D. for your contribution.
True, Alaska has a Republican admin, but local Anchorage admin is far from that conservative side. Being that the State admin leans Republican, it futhers the argument that a media lynch mob is not being dispatched over the mistake of one man, no matter his political beliefs.
But if a conservative officer were caught stealing locally, then our local left-leaning press and media would likely be on it like a dog on a bone. But we just have crickets, which is fine. However, it should be noted, as Suzanne has done.
One recent example: We had a conservative mayor not long ago. Predictably, he was accused of being a dictator (the usual go-to ad hominem). Each time he tried to get something passed, he had to get a vote (not very dictator-like, I know!). He rarely received approval for any of his ideas. But any misstep or perceived misstep was publicized and expanded upon.
Taking down your fellow man if he disagrees with you seems to be the operational procedure for the Left.
Last week, in Minnesota, a boy who got tired of “being” a girl (his own words) is getting very little press for his ideology after shooting up a church. Why? Because the Left’s present philosophy is to help kids transition sexes if they want to. And the shooter’s identity in this tragedy goes against the Left’s narrative. Thus, the media will focus on everything BUT the fact that he was Trans, and attack anyone who mentions it.
There, long-winded. Sorry about that, D.Clark. Hopefully, a bit clearer now.
Wait wait are you holding the governor responsible for this guy shoplifting? Calling your congressman? Huh??? Do you know how our republic and its various levels of government actually work???
This guy worked for the ANCHORAGE police department and apparently thinks that if he had not been wearing his snazzy APD outfit, stealing from the store would be A OKAY. The one to call on the carpet here is mayor LaFrance (who has been in office since July 2024) since this guy was hired on her watch.
Typical lefty, all mouth and no brain. I know what the”D” in D Clark stands for.
“What are you on about?”
Ok, gecko ….. “what are you on MRAK now?”
What does he mean by “logo wear”? And what did that have to do with the shoplifting charge?
Integrity is the one thing that no one can ever take from you. You have to give it away by your own stupid decisions. At least he didn’t try to double down and deny it.
The reason the Propaganda Corps isn’t speaking of it, is because of the local dumpster fire administration.
Oh my, what an insufferable stumblebum.
To claim that “because I was wearing logo wear, that mistake has now led to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge” rather than admit he’s a common thief who was caught stealing is preposterous but to be expected. At least he didn’t stoop to blaming his criminal conduct on racism, I suppose…
Moreover, and it’s entirely possible the Internet could be wrong, but some fruit with the very same name is evidently the president of “Anchorage Pride” and his academic achievements appear to be highlighted by possessing a degree in “fashion marketing” from some “art institute”, which at least suggests he was a terrible DEI hire by the Muni:
https://www.facebook.com/AnchoragePride/photos/alright-alaska-lets-kick-these-introductions-off-meet-christopher-barraza-hes-be/2656809761055015
Thanks Aunt Sally.
Was anticipating reading/hearing something of this sort.
No, he did not make a ‘ mistake’. He made a very poor decision. Saying he made a ‘mistake’ is a copout, and indicative of low morals and low character. The man is a common criminal.
“Copout”
Liberally!
Huh. Did he deliberately put things into his bag without scanning? The self scanners, if one is moving fast, can miss stuff. I had two items last weekend not scan but thankfully I caught it when I scrolled through the scanned list before completing purchase and pulled the items out to go back and scan. How would logo wear make a difference? Am I missing something…..?
So was it a mistake? Was it the scanners fault? Was it your logo wear’s fault? Not tracking. Try this one “The devil made me do it”. It always worked for Flip Wilson. Or just man up and admit you tried to steal. That’s the better option.
What is logo wear? And how can it lead to a misdemeanor?
Roy Orbison could have seen this, just another dem caught on the other side of the law. “I’m a AG””, the beat goes on!!!!
Roy Orbison? Do you think he was blind?
Maybe you mean Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder?
It is interesting that “homeless” people can freely walk out of Lowe’s, Home Depot or Walmart with hundreds of dollars of merchandise and the store and the police do nothing. Yet an employed, responsible citizen working for a living admits to making a mistake, loses his job (on his own accord) and gets crucified in the comments. I’m not saying what he did was right, but why is it ok for unemployed, street people to get away with theft, but not someone who at least is a contributing member of society who admits his mistake? Yes, he worked for APD, but the point is that thousands of dollars are freely being stolen and nothing is done to those committing those crimes. Yet someone admits to a mistake and he is crucified. Something wrong with society today.
“For my friends everything, for all others the law”
Adapted from a statement by Getulio Vargas former President of Brazil and apparent motto of the Anchorage assembly and mayor LaFrance.
The homeless, in my opinion, have provided the reason for this assembly to dole out millions of dollars of taxpayer funds for YEARS to various non-profit entities (run by people like Meg Zalatel and others). It also gives them the ability to mess with zoning and codes in order to “create more affordable housing”. (Yeah we all want a large high rise in the middle of Muldoon…. )Enforce the law and you may actually clean up the city and the reason for this largess and social engineering goes away.
AKflicka, I have no sympathy for this gentleman. He clearly knew what he was doing was wrong and the “mistake” cost him his job and rightfully so.
I agree with you the law needs to be the law for ALL. The real issue is that unless we enforce it equally, there really is no law anymore.
I strongly suggest you send your comment to the assembly (unfortunately as far as I could figure out, you can no longer email the mayor, as it appears that link is no longer available to the public).
Is dat you, Chris?
He’s a government administrator (totally useless leach of resources all of them)he is a drag on society not a productive member
Target has cameras. Did he “accidentally” not ring up a high-value item or q-tips? It’s possible to get to the bottom of this.
No.
He tried to steal and got caught.
LGBTQyadayada – generally are liars.
Another FREAK in government.
These types should not be encouraged to engage in their perverted warped beliefs – they, instead, need to be helped.
You would have thought getting a Second chance like he did he would have changed his ways! Buy once a thief…
Just lost a $112,000 gravy job. No wonder he is sad. Who would hire such a creature now. Hope they hire someone from Holy Rosary Academy, who mowed lawns in his youth to help out the family. Someone of Good Character.
Logo wear? Innervoice: why did I not wear my Harris 2024 shirt? Why?
lol ….. or his Hillary garb.
He was the head of “Hillary For Alaska”
Didn’t even have enough sense to caucus w/ the Bernie Bros!
Logo wear means he was wearing clothing with APD gear with logo.
“While shopping at Target, not all of my items were scanned”, folks it’s pretty obvious he just straight up walked out of the store with items he was never gonna pay for, it’s not like he was walking out with an assortment bag of paid and unpaid items, they should release the video footage though so we can know the truth.
He didn’t “make a mistake”. He intentionally stole merchandise.
“I made a mistake. Not all of my items were scanned…” uh, yeah…that’s why they call it shoplifting. Notice that he doesn’t claim that this was a misunderstanding or that he thought everything was scanned. This doesn’t read like anything other than a slippery confession.
WOW “The silence is an example of the double standard in how political affiliations and administrations shape press treatment of embarrassing scandals. ” The Bonding Scandal ” gets no weight! Please print the do’s and the Do Nots …. Suzanne & how it effects the APFC & our PFD’s
The biggest issue is he made more than enough money he doesn’t need to shoplift, If he was hard up on his huge salary, then this shoplifting was minor in comparison that he needed to humble himself and his family earlier by downsizing that makes them live below his means just like anyone else. Though stealing is wrong no matter who is doing it.
The lesson is live below your means just because you may qualify for a higher priced car and house, it doesn’t mean you must drive that type of car and live in that type of house.
And he works for the PD, also. He is in a position of public trust, even if he isn’t directly tasked with enforcement. He betrayed his office as the face of the Dept. High visibility post. His weak little no accountability statement. Shows that he has no ethics. We’re better off without it, err, him don’t just throw the book at him, throw the whole Library of Congress