Anchorage Assembly Creates New Committee to Oversee Police Use-of-Force and Technology Policies

Anchorage Assembly Creates New Committee to Oversee Police Use-of-Force and Technology Policies

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Anchorage Assembly Creates New Panel to Oversee Police Policies

The Anchorage Assembly has voted 10-1 to form a temporary committee, giving municipal leaders a direct role in overseeing police procedures as the department undergoes a major policy overhaul. The decision, reported by the Anchorage Daily News, comes amid intense public debate surrounding police use-of-force and the growing use of surveillance technology.

This new ad hoc committee, formally known as the Ad Hoc Assembly Committee on APD Policy Review and Implementation, will focus on two critical areas: the implementation of recommendations from a recent audit of the department and the rules governing police technology.

A Focused Mandate for a Temporary Body

Sponsored by Assembly member Kameron Perez-Verdia, who will chair the committee, the resolution creates a temporary body with a specific, one-year charge. Its work will center on how the Anchorage Police Department (APD) puts into practice the recommendations from a final audit completed by the consulting firm 21st Century Policing Solutions (21CP).

Anchorage Assembly passes police surveillance rules after rejecting stricter limits

The 21CP report, released in September 2026, analyzed APD use-of-force data from 2021 through mid-2025 and examined 11 officer-involved shootings from 2024 and 2025. The auditors found a 17 percent overall reduction in use-of-force incidents between 2022 and 2024 but identified concerning trends, such as a high number of force encounters involving individuals with behavioral health issues and issues with high-risk vehicle pursuits. According to the Anchorage Daily News, APD has fully integrated 49 of the more than 50 recommendations into updated policy or operational practice, with the remainder still in progress.

The committee’s second area of focus is the technology and surveillance policies that have repeatedly put the Assembly at odds with the police department. This includes how APD uses its network of surveillance cameras, the Real-Time Crime Center, and emerging tools like artificial intelligence. A key part of this work will be examining which rules belong in Anchorage Municipal Code, which in department policy, and how those policies protect residents’ right to privacy under the Alaska Constitution.

Anchorage Assembly Creates New Committee to Oversee Police Use-of-Force and Technology Policies
Photo: alaskanews.com

Bridging a Gap in Public Oversight

The new committee is not intended to replace the Assembly’s existing Health and Public Safety Committee, nor is it the community-led public safety commission that the Assembly rejected last July after hearing from residents who felt it lacked real oversight authority. Instead, Perez-Verdia and other members described it as a more targeted approach to building public trust.

The committee will meet publicly at least once a month and will include at least four Assembly members. However, the committee is explicitly prohibited from participating in disciplinary proceedings or investigating individual cases or APD personnel.

A Voice of Dissent on the Need for a New Committee

Not every member was convinced of the need for a new committee. Assembly member Keith McCormick was the sole vote against the proposal, arguing that it was unnecessary and duplicative. He pointed to the existing Health and Public Safety Committee, which already oversees policing issues and holds open meetings for public feedback.

Proponents countered that the standing committee is already stretched thin with a wide range of responsibilities, from the Anchorage Fire Department to drug overdose trends. The new ad hoc group, they argued, will allow the Assembly to give the two most high-profile policing issues the sustained, focused attention they require.

Looking back, the push for this oversight comes after a turbulent period for APD. The resolution recites a series of events beginning with five officer-involved shootings in Anchorage in 2024. On August 15, 2024, the Mayor and Chief of Police announced actions in response. Those recommendations, which addressed everything from de-escalation tactics to post-incident procedures, were later reported to have been implemented by the Administration.

The Path Forward for Anchorage’s Policing Policies

With the resolution approved, the committee’s work can begin as early as December. Assembly Chair Anna Brawley will appoint the other members to the group, which will be tasked with producing a final report at the end of its one-year term summarizing its findings and any recommended policy changes.

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