Alaska State Troopers have confirmed the recovery and identification of a body found near the mouth of the Susitna River on May 22. The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Skye Rench of Wasilla, one of two men who went missing in early March after an ATV broke through the ice on the river.
A private pilot alerted authorities after spotting what appeared to be a body on the riverbank. A Department of Public Safety helicopter was dispatched to the area, where, with assistance from a member of the Alaska Dive, Rescue, and Recovery Team, the body of an adult male was recovered and flown to the Wasilla Airport. The remains were then transferred to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification.
On May 23, the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identity of the deceased as Skye Rench. His next of kin have been notified.
Rench and 42-year-old Sean Kendall of Anchorage had been missing since March 6, 2025, when a side-by-side ATV carrying five adults broke through the ice on the Susitna River around 8:45 a.m. Three of the passengers managed to escape the freezing water and walked to a nearby work camp, later declining medical attention after being picked up by a chartered helicopter. Rench was on contract for a drilling company with a remote project near Point Mackenzie, when the ATV went through the ice.
Despite an intensive aerial search using DPS aircraft and support from the Civil Air Patrol, ice conditions made ground-based search efforts impossible. After two days with no further developments, Alaska Wildlife Troopers transitioned to a reactive search status on March 8. At that time, both missing individuals were publicly identified, and their families were notified.
Some of the Memorial Day weekend events around the 49th State (add yours in the comment section below and we’ll add them as needed):
Anchorage:
Headstone cleanup: Saturday, Nuvision Alaska invites the public to help restore and clean veteran headstones at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, 535 E. Ninth Ave. from 11 am to 2 pm. This is the fourth annual year for the cleanup. Bring gloves, 5-gallon buckets and water spray bottles, natural or nylon bristle scrub brushes, and small hand tools. A reception to follow at the American Legion Post 1. More information about how to participate further down the page.
Anchorage Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony: Delaney Park Strip on Ninth Ave. and I Street, 9:30 to 10:30 am. This is the official municipal ceremony in Anchorage. For more information, contact Anchorage’s Military and Veterans Affairs Chair David Foli: 907-444-4646.
Memorial Day BBQ at American Legion Post 1 – Hosted by Nuvision Alaska at American Legion Jack Henry Post 1. A community barbecue to honor the Monday holiday. Takes place Monday from 12:30 to 3 pm. Military ID needed and preregistration requested at this link.
Memorial Day Military Appreciation Concert – Held at Central Lutheran Church, featuring performances to honor military service members. Takes place Sunday, 6:30 pm at 1420 Cordova St, Anchorage.
Memorial Day Event at JBER- Joint Base Elmendorf Fort Richardson – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 26, 2025, at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Pre-ceremonial music begins at 11:30 am, and the ceremony itself starts at noon. To make access easier, the right-hand traffic lane of the Fort Richardson Gate will be dedicated for direct access to the cemetery between 10 am and 12:15 pm. Those arriving outside of these hours will need to obtain a visitor pass at the Richardson Visitor Control Center. This year’s keynote speaker is Verdie Bowen, director of the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs and a 23-year veteran of the US Air Force.
Juneau
Memorial Day service Monday, 11-11:30 am Alaska Memorial Park. Organized by American Legion Auke Bay Post #25.
Auke Bay Post #25 Memorial Day Open House, 11:30 am.
Mat-Su
Veterans Wall of Honor Memorial Day ceremony: 1 p.m. Monday, 801 Wasilla-Fishhook Road in Wasilla. Line up for the walk at 10:30 am at the Mat-Su Wall of Honor and proceed to Aurora Cemetery starting at 10:45 am. At 11 am, the memorial ceremony will be led by VFW 9365. The walk starts at 10:45 am, and at 11 am. A memorial service will be held at the Wall of Honor at 1 pm. Potluck at 1:30 pm at VFW Post 9365 at 301 E. Lake View Ave. in Wasilla.
Kodiak
Kodiak Crab Festival – A major annual event started Thursday and ends Monday, featuring fun events, a solemn blessing of the fleet, and a memorial service for lost fishermen and mariners.
More about the headstone cleanup in Anchorage:
Now in its fourth year, the “Honoring Our Heroes Headstone Clean-Up” event returns to Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, from 11 am to 2 pm. The event is a collaboration between Nuvision Credit Union and American Legion Jack Henry Post 1.
Community members, including veterans, active-duty military personnel, and local residents, are invited to help clean and care for the grave markers of veterans buried at the cemetery. Volunteers will be provided with tools, though bringing personal supplies is also encouraged. Refreshments will be available, courtesy of veteran-owned businesses.
Over the first three years, volunteers cleaned more than 1,800 headstones. This year, organizers hope to extend the effort to additional cemetery tracts with the help of over 150 volunteers.
The event also features a coordinated tribute:
The American Legion Auxiliary will place 1,400 crosses on veterans’ grave markers.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will adorn all veteran headstones with American flags.
Volunteers, alongside Nuvision representatives, will place pennies on each headstone, following the military tradition of leaving a coin to signify respect and remembrance.
The clean-up will be followed by a Thank You Reception for all volunteers at American Legion Post 1 from 2 – 3:30 pm., 840 W. Fireweed Lane
Those interested in volunteering can register in advance through Nuvision’s event page.
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor has joined a coalition of 23 states in a legal challenge to Vermont’s recently enacted Climate Superfund Act, an unconstitutional overreach that could cripple Alaska and American energy production.
The controversial Vermont law, modeled after similar legislation in New York, seeks to hold a select group of coal, oil, and natural gas producers financially responsible for a share of global greenhouse gas emissions dating back to 1995. The fines could total billions of dollars, with no cap included in the statute.
“Alaska is home to the most abundant natural resources and some of the most stunning environmental treasures in the nation,” said Taylor. “Protecting those resources is important and done every day here through rigorous environmental standards. However, Vermont’s newest legal efforts expand their authority and agenda, push their state powers far beyond any reasonable interpretation of the Constitution, and improperly attempt to impose on Alaska’s and other states’ sovereign authority.”
The lawsuit argues that Vermont’s law imposes retroactive liability on companies that were operating in compliance with both state and federal regulations during the time period in question. It also warns that the financial burden of the law would force many traditional energy producers out of business, resulting in widespread job losses and increased dependence on foreign energy sources from nations with weaker environmental protections.
Critics of the law say it unfairly targets domestic producers while ignoring Vermont’s own historical reliance on fossil fuels to power its economy. They also argue that such state-level initiatives conflict with federal energy policy and are preempted by existing federal statutes.
Joining Alaska and West Virginia in the lawsuit are the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
The US Department of Justice filed a separate legal action challenging Vermont’s Superfund Act, in alignment with Executive Orders issued during President Donald Trump’s administration aimed at defending domestic energy interests.
The coalition is asking the court to block Vermont’s law and declare it unenforceable under federal law.
Under Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, the vagrancy problem in Anchorage is worsening. While Democrats blamed the former mayor because he was a Republican, their chosen leader has all-but failed to address the problem of criminal vagrancy and chronic homelessness among the population of inebriates, drug addicts, and parolees.
Suzanne LaFrance, incoming mayor of Anchorage, takes part in a parade that featured anti-semitic slogans on June 29, 2024.
Since LaFrance was sworn in on July 1, 2024, the vagrant encampments have exploded around the city.
A conservative estimate shows that Anchorage has spent at least $14.66 million for specific homelessness-related programs and services in 2024, in addition to other unspecified costs, such as camp abatement, administrative costs, or other grants, which would drive that figure far higher.
We took a tour of some of them this week to show you just what Anchorage residents are having to deal with this summer, as they avoid trails, green spaces, and local parks. Here is the photographic evidence of Anchorage, a city in crisis in 2025:
The solution to vagrants taking over Town Center Square park is evidently to remove the trees, a project of Mayor LaFrance that is now underway. The solution was also used in others places, such as the intersection of 36th Ave. and New Seward Highway.
Near Davis Park.Near Davis Park.Near Davis Park.Near Davis Park.Town Center Square in the heart of Anchorage.
Downtown Anchorage.
Downtown Anchorage at a restaurant next to City Hall.Downtown near the Performing Arts Center.Davis Park, where camps were abated but have since returned.Davis Park, where abatement has failed.
See our previous coverage of the city in decline, with more photos, at these links:
In the political world, you can almost always explain past and future actions by simply following the money. Who does this spending benefit? Who is getting political support? Who is being excoriated? Who is yelling loudest?
Here in Alaska, education is one flash point, with the money going to the various education unions rather than “The Children.” Failure to belly up to the trough with sufficient support is painted as lack of support for The Children rather than very real concern for the complete lack of accountability and abysmal performance of public education in this state over the last several decades.
Similarly, the push for a return to defined benefit pensions for law enforcement is another, newer one, that will quickly be extended to all state union employees. Failure to support is excoriated as lack of support for law enforcement, a laughable charge given the robust gun culture of Alaska.
We can’t afford either, but no matter, as the “All Your PFD Belong To Us Caucus” (formerly the Bipartisan Caucus), have them paid for, first with shrinking the Permanent Fund dividend to a vestigial $1,000 and when that’s gone, they go after the corpus of the Permanent Fund itself to pay for their new obligations.
Who benefits from all this? Democrats, who are purchasing the votes of their supporters with other people’s money. In fact, with the theft of the PFD, they are purchasing political support with the money of individual union members and their families.
This is such a great scam that Republicans have gotten into the game. The two vectors are rural broadband and climate change / green energy spending. Lisa Murkowski is the most obvious practitioner of this.
Rural broadband is a uniquely Alaskan form of grift, with tens of millions of dollars appropriated to make rural broadband available to the Bush. The politicians who support this grift give the free money (taxpayer’s money) to broadband providers who lay fiber and hook up individuals and communities to the internet. Those providers then turn right around and write checks to political campaigns of politicians who support the ongoing grift.
This grift completely ignores the rise of Starlink, satellite-based broadbandthat can be hooked up for a few hundred dollars with monthly service in the $120 range. But nobody gets elected pushing Starlink. Note that if individuals are getting their full statutory PFD, they can afford roughly three Starlink subscriptions per year. That won’t elect any democrats or rainy day RINOs, but no matter.
Our final example comes from climate change / green energy spending most recently authorized in the Biden Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. A lot of the money authorized has yet to be spent or committed. The Trump DOGE team recommended eliminating most of the unallocated spending, something which distresses Alaska’s Senior US Sen. Lisa Murkowski greatly.
When you have a huge pile of money lying around, there is always the possibility of graft and corruption, though in this case that corruption is just as possible as night following day.
The Biden administration managed to shovel $100 billion dollars in green energy grants, loans and commitments out of the front door of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) in the 76 days between Nov 5 and Trump’s inauguration Jan 21. That program managed to write just over $40 billion in the 15 years of its existence before Election Day 2024. No corruption there, I’m sure (/sarc).
Of course, our senior US senator is completely silent about that corruption, though she is quite vocal about reversing the cuts.
“One lesson I remember from the PayPal days: Do you know who complained the loudest? Fraudsters. There would be immediate over the top indignation from the fraudsters. We’re going to see outrageous stuff from fraudsters as we continue cracking down, they’re the loudest.”
It is always nice when the Other Side tells you who they are, what they are, and what they want. It is even better to listen to them and have an appropriate, timely response.
Alex Gimarc lives in Anchorage since retiring from the military in 1997. His interests include science and technology, environment, energy, economics, military affairs, fishing and disabilities policies. His weekly column “Interesting Items” is a summary of news stories with substantive Alaska-themed topics. He was a small business owner and Information Technology professional.
Devil’s club is avoided by hikers due to the sharp spines on its bark and leaves. However, during a brief period in the spring, the tender young shoots can be gathered and eaten raw while on a hike or prepared into a culinary delicacy.
Last February, radio host Bob Bird invited me to discuss food sustainability on the “Talk of Kenai” after I wrote about one of Alaska’s success stories in Delta Junction.
During our conversation, we touched on foraging, and he asked if I had tried devil’s club shoots. While I approach food with a sense of adventure, before Bob’s question, I had only considered devil’s club for its healing properties.
This spring, tasting devil’s club was on my culinary to-do list.
Devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus or Oplopanax horridum), also known as Alaskan ginseng, is native to Alaska, ranging from Southeast Alaska to Southcentral, encompassing the Alaska Panhandle and Kodiak Island. It also grows in other regions in the Pacific Northwest.
This plant thrives in moist environments, such as seepages, near streams, within wet forests, at the bases of cliffs, along forest edges, and in subalpine areas. Devil’s club often forms dense thickets and is easily identifiable by its large, spiky leaves and thorny stems, which can grow up to 10 feet tall.
Devil’s club in summer.
For centuries, devil’s club has been revered and used by Alaska Natives who valued it for its medicinal properties. The Botanical Institute lists the traditional uses for treatment of conditions such as diabetes and cancer, as well as its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Currently, commercially prepared products containing devil’s club are available to use for pain, inflammation, and infections.
Eleanor G. Viereck’s book “Alaska’s Wilderness Medicines” describes some of the many traditional uses and preparations for devil’s club. While the berries of the devil’s club plant are not considered edible, she mentions that the inner bark of the plant’s underground portion was boiled to create a tea believed to help treat tuberculosis, digestive issues, and colds. She goes on to say that people reportedly used the bark to treat boils, sores, and other external infections. Viereck also mentions that the Yakutat Tlingit would scrape the thorns off the stem bark and chew on it “for its emetic and purgative effects as well as for a general cure-all.”
The website Health Benefits Timesoffers science-backed information on nutritional health and outlines numerous potential benefits of devil’s club. These benefits include the possible reduction of inflammation, slowing the growth of cancer cells, providing pain relief for arthritis, aiding in wound healing, and supporting digestive health and weight loss. However, the website also cautions that individuals with certain medical conditions may be more susceptible to negative reactions when using devil’s club. These conditions include, but are not limited to, diabetes, low sodium levels, heart problems, high or low blood pressure, gallstones, peptic ulcers, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Devil’s club has remarkable therapeutic potential. However, what is truly exciting to explore is its culinary potential, particularly the taste and texture of the shoots.
Devil’s club shoots in spring.
When foraging for devil’s club, it is important to sustainably harvest this slow-growing plant to ensure its continued availability for future generations. Respect the plant and its environment, leaving behind enough to promote healthy regrowth. Additionally, be cautious of the thorny spines on the stems and leaves, as they can easily embed in the skin and result in a painful, festering reaction.
Close up of Devil’s club shoots in spring.
Harvest only the young devil’s club shoots that are just beginning to emerge, measuring approximately 1 to 2 inches in length, while they are still soft and tender. Carefully grasp the shoot between your thumb and forefinger and twist it off, taking care not to touch the spines on the stem. You can enjoy devil’s club shoots raw as a snack while hiking. They have a dense texture and a fresh pine flavor, making them a unique addition to any outdoor adventure.
Devil’s club shoots when harvested.
If you are fortunate enough to sustainably harvest enough shoots to take home for a hot dish, there are several enjoyable ways to prepare them. Through my experimentation, I discovered that they are most enjoyable when simply cooked with butter, garlic, lemon, and a pinch of salt.
Applying heat to the devil’s club shoots intensified the flavor, bringing out a sweet and intense earthy pine essence, while the texture remained dense and satiating. Exploring this unique delicacy excited the palate bite after bite, evoking a sense of adventure and connection to nature.
The flavor is quite formidable, indicating that it may be best prepared as a complement to milder vegetables or used to enhance dishes with halibut or shrimp, creating a distinctly Alaskan version of surf and turf. Additionally, devil’s club shoots could elevate the flavor profile of soups and stews, imparting a taste of the wilderness to balance common ingredients for those interested in exploring wild cuisine.
Exploring new culinary experiences often leads to delightful surprises, particularly when incorporating unique ingredients like devil’s club shoots. This earthy taste sensation connects us to the forest and inspires us to elevate our favorite recipes with natural foods that celebrate the distinct and untamed flavors of Alaska.
Sautéed Devil’s Club Shoots
Ingredients:
1 small foraging bag full of freshly picked devil’s club shoots (approximately 2 to 3 cups)
2 to 3 tablespoons of butter (or substitute olive oil)
½ lemon, freshly squeezed (approximately 1 tablespoon of lemon juice)
1 to 2 cloves of garlic, minced
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Makes approximately 4 to 6 servings depending on serving size.
Preparation:
Start by preparing to blanch the devil’s club shoots. Place a large pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, wash the shoots thoroughly by submerging them in a bowl of cool water, then rinse them again. Drain the shoots.
Once the water is boiling, add the shoots and blanch them for 1 to 2 minutes. As soon as the shoots are blanched, remove them from the boiling water and place them in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes. Then, drain the shoots in a colander or strainer.
The shoots will retain excess water, remove as much of the moisture as possible before cooking. To achieve this, press the shoots while they are in a colander, or place them on a clean paper towel and press until most of the water is absorbed.
Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the devil’s club shoots. The heat will help draw out the excess water, causing it to evaporate. Stir or shake the pan occasionally until the water begins to evaporate. Once most of the water has evaporated, add the butter. Continue stirring or tossing the pan until the butter is melted and the shoots are coated evenly.
Then, add the minced garlic and mix it into the shoots. Let the mixture cook undisturbed for one to two minutes until the garlic becomes aromatic. Next, toss the pan or stir occasionally for a few minutes to ensure even cooking, taking care not to overcook or scorch the garlic.
Finally, add lemon juice, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove the pan from the heat and serve immediately to enjoy while it’s still hot.
Brenda Josephson is a Haines resident. She holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Business Leadership from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York. She enjoys spending time fishing, foraging, and savoring Alaska’s abundance of natural and wild foods with her family.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky has ratcheted up the congressional investigation into the Biden Administration’s handling of the president’s mental health and the possible unauthorized use of autopen for executing high-level executive actions, including controversial pardons, such as the pardon of Hunter Biden, Liz Cheney, Anthony Fauci, and Mark Milley.
Comer issued formal letters demanding transcribed interviews with several former White House officials and President Joe Biden’s longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor. Those requested to appear include Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Annie Tomasini, and Ashley Williams, all former senior staffers in the Biden White House.
“The cover-up of President Biden’s obvious mental decline is a historic scandal,” Comer said. “The American people deserve to know when this decline began, how far it progressed, and who was making critical decisions on his behalf.”
The investigation follows revelations that key executive actions, such as broad pardons issued earlier this year before Biden left office, may have been signed using autopen, a device that replicates a person’s signature. Critics argue the use of autopen in such circumstances raises serious constitutional and ethical questions if the president was not mentally capable of authorizing the decisions himself.
Comer previously subpoenaed the same officials during the last Congress, but the Biden White House blocked their participation. In addition, a subpoena for audio recordings from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents was defied by Attorney General Merrick Garland. They can’t block it now.
The inquiry has drawn renewed attention after excerpts from a forthcoming book, Original Sin, described a chaotic internal dynamic within the White House. According to the book, a source familiar with senior staff operations claimed, “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board.”
Democrats and Legacy Media LIED, saying Biden was “fine” and “sharp.”
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 13, 2025
Comer is seeking answers from Dr. O’Connor regarding Biden’s mental and cognitive evaluations, and whether the president had the capacity to carry out the duties of his office when key decisions were made. The committee has also targeted aides who reportedly shielded Biden from public scrutiny or made decisions on his behalf.
Adding fuel to the debate, Ed Martin, in charge of investigating the autopen scandal, recently named several figures he believes could have played a role in approving autopen use or participating in the decision-making process, including Tanden, Bernal, Tomasini, and Williams.
Despite public statements from Biden’s Cabinet and Democratic members of the Oversight Committee claiming the president remains “sharp” and “on top of his game,” Comer and House Republicans argue the pattern of obstruction and growing reports of internal dysfunction point to a broader cover-up.
Biden’s own Cabinet said he was “on top of his game.”
Now Jake Tapper cashes in and says they privately admitted he was “disoriented,” “out of it,” and kept away from them.
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 15, 2025
The committee’s investigation is ongoing, and Chairman Comer has indicated that any refusal to comply with congressional oversight will result in “swift and decisive action.”
The Anchorage Health Department has confirmed that a young resident of the Municipality of Anchorage tested positive for measles on May 21. The individual is a minor who was not vaccinated against the disease, officials said Wednesday.
The city’s health professionals are warning that the case could result in broader community exposure, especially for individuals who are not immune either through prior infection or vaccination. The highly contagious nature of measles means that even brief exposure in public settings can lead to transmission.
The AHD and the Alaska Department of Health are conducting an active investigation and have released a list of public locations where exposure may have occurred. Individuals who visited the following sites during the specified timeframes may have been exposed and should take precautions:
Potential Exposure Sites and Timeframes:
O’Malley Sports Center / Fly Trampoline Park 11050 O’Malley Centre Dr, Anchorage, AK May 10, 2025, between approximately 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Target (South Anchorage location) 150 W. 100th Ave, Anchorage, AK May 11, 2025, between approximately 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
YMCA 5353 Lake Otis Parkway, Anchorage, AK May 12, 2025, between approximately 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
People who were at any of the above locations during the relevant times and are not immunized should monitor for symptoms of measles from May 17 through June 2. Health officials recommend verifying vaccination status and, if not up to date, getting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine promptly.
However, the incubation for measles is up to two weeks, and the notification is coming out near the end of that incubation period.
The health department said those without immunity are urged to avoid hospitals, long-term care facilities, large gatherings, and immunocompromised individuals through early June. If symptoms develop, such as high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash, affected individuals should contact a healthcare provider by phone first to arrange for safe medical evaluation.
Measles Symptoms to Watch For:
High fever
Cough
Runny nose
Red, watery eyes
Rash that starts on the face and spreads downward, typically 2–4 days after the onset of other symptoms
The MMR vaccine is a safe and highly effective method of protection. The AHD offers vaccinations at its clinic by appointment and may accommodate walk-ins when possible. To schedule a vaccination, call 907-343-4799.
For questions or concerns about possible exposure or symptoms, residents may contact:
Anchorage Health Department: 907-903-9783
State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology: 907-269-8000
The Municipality of Anchorage has reached a historic $2.11 million settlement with the family of the late Easter Leafa, marking what is likely the largest known civil settlement in Alaska’s history involving a use-of-force incident.
The settlement resolves all claims arising from the fatal police shooting of 16-year-old Leafa on Aug. 13, 2024 after she threatened several people with a large knife. Although a state investigation concluded with no criminal charges filed against the officer involved, the Leafa family, represented by legal counsel, pursued civil claims against the city. Ten members of the Leafa family were named in the settlement.
On April 30, 2025, Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case and members of the Leafa family met with their respective attorneys and reached the multimillion-dollar agreement to avoid extended litigation. The Municipality described the decision as a strategic one, aimed at minimizing costs and risks while allowing space for healing.
“We want to protect everyone involved from having to re-live this incident in court,” said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. “I have met with the Leafa family, and the grace with which they’ve responded to their loss is profound. I am grateful for their desire to prioritize healing, for themselves and the whole community.”
The statement is in contrast to the quick public apology she made to the family immediately after the incident in which Easter Leafa was a violent aggressor, and was subsequently shot by police.
“Every officer in our department has chosen to serve because they care about our community and its safety,” she said in a statement. “They have difficult and sometimes thankless jobs … As Mayor, it is my responsibility to ensure they have the support and resources they need.”
In response to the shooting, the LaFrance administration commissioned an independent review of the incident, showing no faith in the existing public process through the Office of Special Prosecutions.
That report, which was released in January 2025, included a series of policy and training recommendations, all of which the Anchorage Police Department has committed to implementing. Much of the report, however, was kept secret from the public.
Chief Case, who assumed leadership of APD on July 1, 2024, also initiated a department-wide review of use-of-force incidents dating back 15 years. That review was released publicly in November of 2024 and aimed at identifying systemic issues or trends.
Additionally, APD has launched a public-facing use-of-force dashboard to increase transparency. A six-month comprehensive review of APD’s policies and training related to force and de-escalation, conducted by an outside contractor, will begin soon, following a competitive procurement process involving the municipality, the police union, and community stakeholders.
The city has also bolstered staffing of its Mobile Intervention Team which pairs behavioral health professionals with law enforcement to respond to mental health crises. This initiative is part of the administration’s broader Safe Streets and Trails strategy aimed at preventing violence and improving public safety.
The Anchorage Assembly was briefed on the terms of the settlement during a closed-door executive session at its Tuesday night meeting. The agreement officially brings to a close the civil proceedings related to one of the most scrutinized use-of-force cases in the state’s recent history.
