The Alaska Dispatch News recently interviewed Professor Troy Payne, Justice faculty, regarding four officer-involved shootings in the last nine months in Mat-Su. Payne is author of what the Dispatch called a “pivotal 2013 report” of Anchorage police shootings over a 20-year period.
The role of K-9s in two of the four officer-involved shootings highlights the importance of studying how police and citizens interact, Payne said. Dogs can terrify a fleeing suspect, who might choose to shoot. Agencies should review each incident carefully to make sure policy and practice is meeting the agency’s goals.
Regarding the most recent incident, he added ,"Clearly you had a citizen there who was willing to shoot somebody."
Read Prof. Payne's full report:
Officer-Involved Shootings in Anchorage 1993–2013 by Troy C. Payne. Report prepared for Anchorage Police Department. Anchorage, AK: Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 11 Dec 2013.
