ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – In a community conversation on Sunday, the Alaska Black Caucus asked the Anchorage Police Department’s chief designee about transparency and accountability in law enforcement.
Capt. Bianca Cross, who recently became the first-ever woman appointed to APD’s top post, stated the police department strives to have competent, professional and unbiased officers.
When asked about racial profiling, Cross said she recognizes its presence in law enforcement. She admitted there have been “stories that have kind of made my jaw drop” surrounding racism within the department.
“I’m not going to say that there’s not racism within the department. I’m not going to say that those people haven’t experienced those things,” she said. “I believe racism is an ignorance problem. If you are a racist person, if you believe someone can or can’t do something based on the color of their skin, your bias is ignorance and that’s just how it is.”
Born in Philadelphia, Cross said she has lived in Alaska for over three decades. Cross joined APD in the late 1990s. She said was inspired to pursue law enforcement after going on a ride-along and seeing everyone work together.
Body-worn camera use was discussed several times during Sunday night’s meeting. Both the Assembly and police department have been criticized for not implementing body cameras sooner.
Now that police are equipped with cameras, the ABC and other organizations have expressed frustration over police not immediately releasing footage. The issue resurfaced this spring after police shot and killed an Anchorage man, who they said raised a long gun at officers. But in the days after the May 13 shooting, a widely-circulated surveillance video cast doubt into that narrative.
Cross said that looking through footage is a long process and is considered evidence in investigations. The Caucus questioned why other cities release footage sooner than what many considered a lengthy process for APD.
“I don’t feel like you can run a business or you can run a company, a city or anything unless you can put out the information that the people desire,” Cross said. “Now with that, we have to balance expectations as well. Most of this revolves around essentially body-worn camera footage and sometimes the conduct of officers. There is a time to release that information but it really depends on when.”
Cross said she believes in alternate policing models such as the Mobile Crisis and Crisis Intervention programs that she said are effective in the community.
Cross said they’ve had retention trouble with people going through police training and leaving for another department in other places with better retirement and benefits. She also said it’s hard to retain people from the Lower 48.
Growden talked about wanting to see input included from marginalized communities in APD’s policies, which Cross agreed with.
When asked about accountability and transparency within the department, Cross said it’s often a balance between giving the public information they want, while balancing the process of policies, procedures and privacy.
Rich Curtner, a co-chair of the Alaska Black Caucus Justice Committee, said APD needs to be transparent and held accountable. Curtner emphasized one of the best ways is with civilian oversight.
Cross says she supports a forum and would like to see civilian oversight. Growden said, ahead of asking Cross a variety of questions, that she supports the new police chief designee.
Cross said people should be hopeful when it comes to the change within the department and creating trustful relationships with the community and media.
Cross has yet to be confirmed as APD chief. The Assembly postponed the confirmation until after Suzanne LaFrance officially steps into office Monday, July 1.
Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.
