Anchorage police and city officials say crime numbers are down, and the municipality is a safe place to live and play.
That’s according to the statistics shown in the 2014 Uniform Crimes Report (UCR).
At a press conference held on Tuesday morning, Mayor Dan Sullivan said Anchorage is the safest it has been in years.
“Even though there’s fewer officers, Anchorage is a safer city than it’s ever been,” Sullivan said. “And that’s just good news. You can throw a dart at how many officers you think you should have, but it’s how you deploy those officers, not how many you have.”
Mayor Sullivan and Anchorage Police Department Chief Mark Mew praised the recent statistics. Sullivan said the 2014 report should help quell fears that Anchorage crime is on the rise.
“The numbers really don’t bear out what was kind of the rhetoric on the [mayoral] campaign, that Anchorage has become more dangerous, and, you know, the trends are going in the wrong direction. The trends are going in the right direction, and 14 to 13 proves that,” Sullivan said.
According to the report, overall crimes are down by 340 incidents from 2013 to 2014. The total number of homicides, forcible rapes, robberies and thefts are all down. Burglaries, vehicle thefts and aggravated assaults are up.
Of the seven crimes reported in the study, four are down and three are up.
“Felony assaults, that’s where there is serious physical injury. That’s where there’s some sort of weapon being used. We’re going to include choking behavior. But, what that doesn’t cover is your typical, misdemeanor Fourth Avenue pushing and shoving match,” said Chief Mew.
But it’s those pushing and shoving matches, and the recent string of violent crimes, that have some police officers saying the UCR doesn’t represent the current state of crime in Anchorage.
“For me to stand here and say crime is down, I think I would look foolish. Because we are seeing a shooting every day, a stabbing every day. We’re seeing violent crimes every few days here in Anchorage,” said Jeff Bell, vice president of the Anchorage Police Employees Association.
So far this year there have been at least 10 homicides in Anchorage, according to APD. Bell says one of the biggest issues is there simply are not enough officers to patrol the streets and be proactive in helping prevent crime from happening.
“I think we need to listen to the public. They’re telling us they don’t feel safe, and to sit there and say, ‘Yes you do, and here’s why,’ I think that’s irresponsible,” Bell said.
On Tuesday afternoon, people in downtown Anchorage expressed their concerns.
“Guns, guns, guns, guns, every week, shoot, shoot, knife, knife. I don’t know what’s going on these past three motnhs. It’s just crazy,” said Peggy Otton.
I would say I feel less safe this year than I did two or three years ago. There are more violent crimes near me,” said Mary Mathisen.