Anchorage Police Chief Bianca Cross is not being retained by Mayor-elect Suzanne LaFrance, Must Read Alaska has learned. Chief Cross notified the police force in an email early today.
Chief Cross took office on April 29, having worked in policing since 1997 when she joined APD as a recruit. Cross is the first female chief of the department. During her 26-plus-year career at APD, she worked as a patrol officer, supervisor, burglary detective in the Property Crimes Detective Division, sexual assault detective in the Special Victims Unit, homicide detective and supervisor in the Homicide Unit, and a commander of the Violent Crimes Detective Division.
Chief Cross has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Business Administration. She was the recipient of the 2020 Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police Officer of the Year and the 2018 Anchorage Police Department Leadership Award. She replaced Chief Michael Kerle, who retired in April.
Former Deputy Chief Sean Case, who is close with the Leftist Assembly and Mayor-elect LaFrance, will be named to step in as the chief, although the announcement has not been made by the LaFrance team.
Update: The announcement of the change was made at noon on Tuesday.
