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Rural villages in Alaska are in a public safety crisis. One in three communities in Alaska have no local law enforcement, according to an investigation by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica. In some areas, crime victims—often Alaska Natives—must wait hours or even days for officers to respond. In some cases, residents are forced to apprehend people who pose a threat to the public. U.S. Attorney General William Barr declared an emergency, making $10 million of federal money available to boost rural law enforcement. The same day, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed $3 million in spending for Village Public Safety Officer positions. In this hour we’ll look into law enforcement in Alaska and what solutions might help.
Guests:
AlexAnna Salmon (Igiugig Village) – president of the Igiugig Village Council
Julie Kitka (Chugach Eskimo) – president of Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN)
Richard Peterson (Tlingit) – president of the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Darlene Trigg (Inupiaq) – local community advocate
Break 1 Music: Sunshine (song) Audiopharmacy (artist) U Forgot About Us (album)
Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)
