Alaska Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore said releasing footage from officers’ body-worn cameras after use-of-deadly-force situations is a matter involving both transparency and due process.
Skidmore’s press conference came as the Anchorage Assembly majority is ramping up demands for the release of video in recent officer-involved shooting incidences, particularly that of Kristopher Handy on May 13.
The Office of Special Prosecutions in the Alaska Law Department reviews all officer-involved shooting cases, Skidmore said. There have been nine officer-involved shootings in Alaska in 2024, five of them in Anchorage since May.
Three incidences since last October have been resolved with no charges filed against officers. They are:
- Timothy Thomas; Oct. 30, 2023, Tok; no charges filed against AST Trooper.
- Kaleb Bourdukofsky; June 1, 2024, Anchorage; no charges filed APD officers.
- Victor Jack; February 28, 2024, Wasilla; no charges filed against AST Trooper.
The pending cases are:
- Kristopher Handy; May 13, 2024, Anchorage; the autopsy report and the ballistics report received July 16.
- Tyler May; June 3, 2024, Anchorage; Law enforcement reports provided to Special Prosecutions on July 5. Still awaiting the autopsy report.
- Lisa Fordyce-Blair; June 19, 2024, Anchorage; A prosecutor has been in communication with investigators at APD and some law enforcement reports provided to Special Prosecutions July 16. Still awaiting the autopsy and ballistics report.
- Damien Dollison; July 8, 2024, Anchorage; A prosecutor has been in communication with investigators at APD, awaiting police reports, autopsy and ballistics reports.
- Steven Kissack; July 15, 2024, Juneau; A prosecutor has been in communication with investigators; awaiting reports from law enforcement, autopsy, and ballistics.
- Kirk Medak; July 8, 2024, Soldotna; A prosecutor has been in communication with investigators; awaiting reports from law enforcement, autopsy, and ballistics.
- Angela Polty; May 18, 2024, Marshall; awaiting ballistics.
- Micheal Grimes; November 1, 2023, Healy; awaiting Ballistics.
Skidmore released a report detailing laws and procedures around these types of cases, including this state statute:
AS 11.81.370 – Use of Force by Police
(a) … The officer may use deadly force only when and to the extent the officer reasonably believes the use of deadly force is necessary to make the arrest or terminate the escape or attempted escape from custody of a person the officer reasonably believes (1) has committed or attempted to commit a felony which involved the use of force against a person; (2) has escaped or is attempting to escape from custody while in possession of a firearm on or about the person; or (3) may otherwise endanger life or inflict serious physical injury unless arrested without delay.
Anchorage Assemblyman Felix Rivera said Anchorage Police have lost the public’s trust and he, Assemblyman Daniel Holland and Assemblywoman Meg Zaletel have introduced ordinances to hasten the release of the video from body-worn cameras.
“We broach this conversation at a time of mourning,” said Rivera. “We mourn the lives lost and feel for everyone involved in the recent officer-involved shootings. In the wake of loss and amid the pain, we call upon our fellow members, our partners in the Administration, and APD to change our approach and rebuild public trust.” (Italics by MRAK).
Anchorage AR 2024-210, demands that Anchorage Police offer the Handy family the opportunity to review footage of the Kris Handy police shooting at no cost in advance of its public release; it calls for the release of body-worn camera recordings of all recent officer-involved shootings and critical incidents, no later than 30 days after the resolution is approved; and, urges Mayor LaFrance Administration and Anchorage Police to use a different body-worn camera policy, such as one suggested by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Anchorage AO 2024-69 proposes a definition of “body-worn cameras” in Anchorage Municipal Code under. The ordinance would give the existing policy governing body-worn cameras the force of law and establish that the failure to adhere the policy may be considered grounds for discipline. A public hearing is scheduled for July 30.
Watch the State Department of Law Facebook livestream of the press conference here.
I’m part of the public and you don’t speak for me, Felix.
Anchorage’s assembly members are largely responsible for the recent downward fall Anchorage has experienced and ours would be a better place if they Felix were gone.