Pubdate: Sun, 26 Jul 2015
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Bill Hearn

PRIORITIES MUST CHANGE

On the front page of the July 22 ADN there was an article about the 
Anchorage Police Department, with six to eight officers having drawn 
their weapons, seizing a van. This van had just delivered marijuana 
and its seizure was part of an ongoing investigation.

Over the several months that these delivery services have been in 
operation, to the best of my knowledge, none have been the cause of, 
been involved in, or even been close to, any violent crimes. Violent 
crimes would include fights, assaults, knifings, shootings, home 
invasions, rapes or murders.

Over the same several months, across the Municipality of Anchorage, 
there have been numerous violent crimes, including fights, assaults, 
knifings, shootings, home invasions, rapes and murders.

A recent poll of the APD indicated that morale was low due to being 
short-handed.

The policy of cracking down on a non-problem (delivery of a legal 
product) is an embarrassing misallocation of limited resources.

I would have thought that the new mayor would have prioritized using 
law enforcement resources for public safety issues, i.e. prevention 
of, or arrest for, violence against its citizens.

- - Bill Hearn

Seward
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom