Governor Dunleavy and Mayor LaFrance announce new state–municipality joint task force to combat crime in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE - Today, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance held a joint press conference to announce a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing the State-Municipality Quality-of-Life Task Force. This public safety initiative marks a new level of coordination between state and local authorities to target retail theft, public disorder, and the drug activity that often fuels them.

As Alaska's primary urban hub, Anchorage houses the state's largest concentration of social services, health and correctional resources, and major commerce entry points, including the Don Young Port of Alaska and the Ted Stevens International Airport.

The new task force acknowledges that a safer Anchorage is a prerequisite for a safer Alaska, creating a systemic partnership that aligns state felony prosecutorial power with local enforcement.

"Improving public safety has been my top priority since day one. By working in conjunction with the Municipality, we can be more effective in stopping crime before it happens and holding criminals accountable," Governor Mike Dunleavy said. "This effort doesn't only benefit Anchorage residents, but everyone who visits, whether they are a rural resident flying in from the bush for a gathering or health care, or a tourist on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. A safer Anchorage makes a safer Alaska."

"The Municipality is proud to be an economic and resource hub for the state, and with that role comes a responsibility to ensure our streets are safe for everyone," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "My team has laid the groundwork for a safer Anchorage: we've staffed up our prosecution team and police, increased crisis care and outreach, established year-round shelter, and updated our criminal code to include certain camping and public disorder offenses. And we're seeing results - we no longer have any long-term large encampments, and our municipal conviction rates are up 71% in the last year."

Public safety in Anchorage is inherently a joint effort. The Anchorage Police Department enforces the law on the ground, and the Municipality prosecutes misdemeanors, while the State handles felony-level offenses. The State also controls the airport, a main entry point for illicit drugs, and holds an important role in drug interdiction.

This partnership is about scaling public safety efforts and increasing coordination between both governments. The Task Force is led by Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore for the State and Municipal Attorney Eva Gardner for the Municipality, and includes integrated teams from the Anchorage Police Department, the Department of Law, and the Municipal Prosecutor's Office.

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Media Contact:

​Emily Goodykoontz
Press Secretary, Anchorage Mayor's Office
[email protected]
1-907-205-6683

​Grant Robinson
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Governor
​[email protected]

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