Mayor LaFrance and Police Chief Case provide update on abatement and recent crime suppression efforts

Anchorage, AK－Mayor LaFrance and Chief Case shared public safety updates from a crime suppression operation last week, along with abatement of an encampment on Fairbanks Street.

On Tuesday, notices were posted for abatement of Fairbanks Street from East 40^th Avenue to East 42^nd Avenue. As of a recent count, the encampment included 41 units being used as shelters, including structures in the right-of-way. The area had received numerous reports of criminal activity, including a shooting that resulted in a death and injury, and local businesses had reported increasing rates of theft and vandalism.

Notices were posted Tuesday for a 72-hour notice abatement of the area.

"Abatement itself doesn't solve the problem of unsheltered homelessness," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "But it is a tool to break up dangerous areas like what we've seen on Fairbanks Street."

Last week, Anchorage Police Department also led a crime suppression effort, which resulted in 90 arrests, 19 felony warrants served, and 21 misdemeanor warrants served. 16 individuals were charged with felony crime, and 47 individuals were charged with misdemeanor crimes through the effort. APD seized 13 firearms, some of which were stolen. Many of these numbers may go up as additional search warrants are served this week.

"I want to thank the dedicated officers at APD for their efforts last week," Chief Case stated. "Not every situation warrants a police response, but the kind of criminal activity we were addressing last week is of concern to the department and the community."

Additionally, they seized:

Cocaine:  21g

Heroin:  8g

Mushrooms:  1.2 pounds

Fentanyl Pills:  3.9 pounds

Fentanyl Powder:  1g

Meth:  3.5 pounds

"Public safety is the number one job of local government, and a responsibility I do not take lightly," said Mayor LaFrance. "We will respond when there is dangerous activity that threatens the safety of our community. At the same time, we need to think about how we get out of crisis response and become a safer community with less crime and more options for people to sleep off of streets and trails."

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Media Contact: Amanda K. Moser

907-615-7852

[email protected]

20240730_PR_Fairbanks_St.pdf ​

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