Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
01/25/2013 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Department of Public Safety | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
SENATE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
January 25, 2013
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
SENATE JUDICIARY
Senator John Coghill, Chair
Senator Lesil McGuire, Vice Chair
Senator Fred Dyson
HOUSE JUDICIARY
Representative Wes Keller, Chair
Representative Bob Lynn, Vice Chair
Representative Neal Foster
Representative Lance Pruitt
Representative Max Gruenberg
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Charisse Millett
MEMBERS ABSENT
SENATE JUDICIARY
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Donald Olson
HOUSE JUDICIARY
All members present.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
JOSEPH MASTERS, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of Department of
Public Safety (DPS).
COLONEL KEITH MALLARD, Director
Division of Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of the Division of
Alaska State Troopers.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:31 PM
CHAIR JOHN COGHILL called the joint meeting of the Senate and
House Judiciary Standing Committees to order at 1:33 p.m.
Present at the call to order were Senators McGuire, Dyson, and
Chair Coghill; and Representatives Gruenberg, Millett, LeDoux,
Lynn, Foster and Chair Keller.
^OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
1:34:58 PM
CHAIR COGHILL stated that the business before the committee
would be an overview of the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
1:35:23 PM
JOSEPH MASTERS, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety (DPS),
introduced himself and Colonel Keith Mallard, Director, Division
of Alaska State Troopers.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked who from DPS would typically
appear and testify before the legislature.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS replied that he would introduce some bills
and Lieutenant Rodney Dial would probably testify on certain
issues, but the bulk would fall to Kelly Howell, the DPS
Legislative Liaison.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS reported the mission of the Department of
Public Safety is, "To ensure public safety and enforce fish and
wildlife law."
SENATOR DYSON remarked that the implication with regard to fish
and wildlife is that DPS can do no more than enforce the law. He
asked if the same was true with regard to public safety, that
DPS can only enforce the law.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS replied that language is in statute and DPS
meets its mission in a variety of ways, only one of which is
through the enforcement of laws. Other ways are through
education and assisting other agencies with their missions.
1:37:41 PM
SENATOR DYSON noted that Governor Parnell put missions and
measures information in statute and the legislature was supposed
to review the missions and analyze the appropriateness of the
measures. He recommended discussing the measures with the
departments and taking suggestions about changes.
CHAIR COGHILL agreed with the suggestion.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS reviewed the following core services of
DPS:
· Law enforcement patrol and investigations are done
primarily through the Division of Alaska State Troopers and
Alaska Wildlife Troopers.
· Rural law enforcement.
· Domestic violence and sexual assault programs.
· Statewide public safety programs.
· Resource protection.
· Highway safety.
Also contained in the statutory mission is a requirement for DPS
to support other law enforcement agencies. This is done through
direct investigative support from the enforcement divisions to
other law enforcement agencies. For example, in 2012 AST
provided over 7,000 assists to other law enforcement agencies
within the state. Three hundred and thirteen were more serious
offenses and were direct investigative assistance by the Alaska
Bureau of Investigation.
1:39:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if any thought was given to
combining under DPS the various law enforcement entities of the
railroad, university, airports, and others.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said he had not seen a strong argument to
indicate that such consolidation would be advantageous, although
there were some entities that have their law enforcement
authority provided at the extension of the Department of Public
Safety. For example, commercial vehicle enforcement officers are
under the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOTPF). They carry very specific special permissions from the
commissioner of public safety and assist the Alaska State
Troopers.
CHAIR COGHILL said it was a legitimate question because
legislators make policy calls regarding authority and benefit
issues.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that there might be some
cost-savings in doing so. He related a personal experience on
the Alaska Marine Highway and wondered if that state entity had
limited law enforcement authority.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said something that needs to be in the
equation is the potential for overextending DPS personnel. For
example, under DNR, the Alaska State Park rangers have a very
wide array of duties but just a small portion relate to law
enforcement. It may not be cost efficient or effective for DPS
to provide those law enforcement duties, but the people in the
state parks still need to have the other functions served.
CHAIR COGHILL remarked that legislators often get pushback from
constituents on how park rangers sometimes use that authority.
1:44:45 PM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS stated that another statutory requirement
of DPS is to provide search and rescue support to agencies and
municipalities. Last year the department participated in more
than 700 search and rescues involving over 1,000 individuals. He
noted that the state relies on volunteer and professional
organizations statewide in this effort. Another area that DPS
meets its obligations is by providing training for most law
enforcement agencies within the state, including Village Public
Safety Officers (VPSO) and Village Police Officers (VPO). DPS is
also responsible for maintaining the Alaska Public Safety
Information Network (APSIN). This includes a number of databases
and access portals to systems such as the National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) that all law enforcement agencies in
the state use on a daily basis. Maintaining evidence submitted
to the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory is another
important support service.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS reviewed the organization of the department
starting with the commissioner's office. The primary divisions
within the department are the Division of Alaska State Troopers,
the Division of Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Division of
Administrative Services, the Division of Statewide Services, and
the Division of Fire and Life Safety. Also housed within DPS are
the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the Alaska
Police Standards Council, and the Alaska Fire Standards Council.
He explained that each council operates autonomously, but DPS
assists with the administrative functions of finance and human
resources.
1:48:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT joined the meeting.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said the duties of the Division of
Administrative Services are primarily the financial components
related to operating DPS. [These include finance, human
resources, administration, budget, grants management,
procurement, supply, and facilities management.]
He informed the committee that the Division of Statewide
Services provides the interface between the DPS and other law
enforcement agencies. The Criminal Records and Identification
Bureau houses the Alaska Public Safety Information Network
(APSIN), the Alaska Automated Fingerprint Identification System
(AAFIS), Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), Civilian Process Server
and Security Guard Licensing, the Sex Offender and Child
Kidnapper Registry, and Concealed Handgun Permits. This division
is also responsible for application support for mainframe and
small computers, network development, operation, and security,
and Web services.
CHAIR COGHILL asked if Uniform Crime Reporting was part of the
national reporting.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said yes.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN noted that law enforcement in Arizona was
using small, portable fingerprint identification devices that
tied into a local database. He asked if DPS was using or
anticipated using a similar system.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS responded that DPS was always looking at
how new technology might make the job more efficient and
effective, particularly with regard to information sharing and
record keeping. However, with the current focus on basic
infrastructure and justice issues, DPS probably would not be
looking at that technology in the near future.
He reviewed the offices within the Division of Fire and Life
Safety. These include the Training and Education Bureau, the
Life Safety Inspections Bureau, the Plans Review Bureau, the
Office of Rural Fire Protection, and the Joint Pipeline Office.
The two broad areas of focus are fire safety education and
outreach, particularly for homes, and regulation, primarily plan
review of commercial buildings and residential structures that
have more than three housing units. He noted that none of the
fire-related fatalities in the last several years had occurred
in the larger commercial units.
1:52:45 PM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS reviewed the scientific capabilities of the
Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory. It provides biological
screening as well as tests for controlled substances, DNA/CODIS,
evidence, firearms and tool marks, fire debris, forensic
toxicology, and latent prints.
SENATOR DYSON lauded the new, state-of-the-art crime lab, and
asked the commissioner to comment on the backlog on processing
DNA samples and the issue of removing records from the database
when an individual was not charged or found not guilty.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS responded that the DNA backlog,
particularly in sexual assault cases had been reduced
dramatically. He offered his understanding that none of the
backlog predated 2011. He described this as a significant
accomplishment and opined that it spoke well of how the move was
conducted and the new lab brought on line.
SENATOR DYSON maintained that on sexual assault cases, the
evidence should be turned around in days or weeks at the very
most. He added that having evidence that dated back to 2011
seemed to be a problem.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS explained that in most of those cases, the
suspects are unknown or there is nothing to compare the sample
to.
SENATOR DYSON asked how quickly new samples are processed.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS estimated that between 80 and 85 percent of
cases submitted to the lab are analyzed and returned within 30
days. He offered to follow up with the exact figures.
CHAIR COGHILL asked what the CODIS acronym stands for.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS answered that CODIS is the federal database
where electronic DNA fingerprints and profiles are collected and
stored. The acronym stands for Combined DNA Index System. With
regard to an earlier question, he explained that in Alaska DNA
information is collected on felony arrest, not on conviction. If
an individual is later found not guilty, there is a process to
remove the information from the database.
1:59:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked if it was a laborious process to
remove DNA information from CODIS. He opined that the
responsibility to clear the information should not be placed on
an individual who was found not guilty.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS offered to follow up with specific
information about the process, but he did not believe it was
laborious.
CHAIR COGHILL expressed interest in getting the specific
information.
2:00:47 PM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS confirmed he would send all information to
the respective chairs for distribution.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS deferred to Colonel Mallard to discuss the
Trooper divisions.
2:01:20 PM
COLONEL KEITH MALLARD, Director, Division of Alaska State
Troopers (AST), Department of Public Safety (DPS), informed the
committee that AST is comprised of five detachments distributed
geographically statewide. Within the division are the Bureau of
Investigations, the Bureau of Judicial Services, and the Bureau
of Highway Patrol. AST also oversees the Statewide Drug and
Alcohol Enforcement Unit and the VPSO Program Office, which
oversees the VPSO grant, the D.A.R.E. program, the School
Resource Officer component, the LECC program, and the summer
camp programs for Western Alaska.
The Alaska Wildlife Troopers has four detachments, a Wildlife
Investigations Unit, a Marine Enforcement Section, and an
Aircraft Section for both wildlife troopers and state troopers.
CHAIR COGHILL asked for confirmation that the AST Aircraft
Section handled both wildlife enforcement and search and rescue.
COLONEL MALLARD said yes and added that the Aircraft Section
supervises how aircraft are utilized and ensures that the pilots
are properly trained and licensed. The division has one
helicopter and will soon have a second, both of which are
primarily used for search and rescue.
CHAIR COGHILL offered his understanding that they were not air
ambulances, which was stretching the division's capacity on
search and rescue. He asked how the new helicopter would be
configured.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS explained that it would be the same design
as the one that was currently located in Anchorage. It would
have a wide cargo compartment in the back that would facilitate
a stretcher. He confirmed that AST did not have the capability
to act as an air ambulance and did not have the personnel to
staff that sort of response.
CHAIR COGHILL said he wanted to highlight that because the 911
working group discussion was that the expectation is that
distress calls will be picked up because of improved cellphone
and satellite phone coverage. He noted that AST was often if not
always called first, whereas it used to be the military. He
asked if any other entity or agency had helicopter rescue
capability.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS clarified that the Alaska National Guard
currently had a rescue squadron based out of Joint Base
Elmendorf/Richardson and it deployed a Black Hawk helicopter on
rescue missions. He added that most rescue coordination in the
Interior comes from a 911 phone call, which is routed to the
Department of Public Safety or Alaska State Troopers. Depending
on the need, the rescue coordination center would then be called
for a military assist.
CHAIR COGHILL relayed that most fixed wing planes in the
Interior are not suited to land where most 911 calls originate
off the road system, and he looked forward to the arrival of the
new helicopter.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS informed the committee that the contracts
were signed, the civilian pilot was being hired, and delivery
was anticipated in June 2013.
2:08:06 PM
COLONEL MALLARD reviewed the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data for
Alaska. He said the statewide data for calendar year 2011 was
based on 34 reporting law enforcement agencies. He displayed a
map to show the locations of the contributing agencies.
He reminded the committee that the crime index offenses are
categorized as either violent crimes or property crimes. Violent
crimes include murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated
assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, and
motor vehicle theft.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS clarified that this was not all the crimes
that occurred in Alaska; the UCR index was a select list of
crimes the FBI compiled to utilize for managers and policy
makers to make judgments on what crime was occurring in a
particular area.
SENATOR DYSON highlighted that the UCR data was from reported
crimes, not indicted or convicted. He asked him to comment on
ratios and which crimes were more likely to have false reports.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS confirmed that these were only reported
offenses to law enforcement. He said that crimes like homicide
and murder were difficult not to report, robberies generally
were highly reported, aggravated assault reports depended on the
area of the state and circumstances, forcible rapes and sex
crimes in general were very under-reported.
2:10:11 PM
COLONEL MALLARD reviewed the Alaska Crime Index Offense Summary
from 2001 through 2011; these were reported incidents and the
trend was downward.
He reviewed the Alaska Crime Rate Summary for 2001 through 2011
and explained that the crime rate relates the incidence of crime
relative to population. He pointed out that the crime rate also
trended down.
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER asked if the trend was the same in rural
Alaska.
COLONEL MALLARD said he would follow up with data broken down by
region, but these were statewide numbers.
SENATOR MCGUIRE asked if DPS attempted to discern the reasons
for trends in crime statistics.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS responded that DPS does look at movements
in crime rates and it appears that they are driven by policy
changes and departmental activities. The Governor's "Choose
Respect" initiative, for example, has increased reporting rates
for sexual assault.
2:13:22 PM
SENATOR MCGUIRE suggested that it would be helpful if those
observations were shared with the legislature, because that
could be a place to allocate resources.
SENATOR DYSON commented that, "The improvements all correlate
with Commissioner Masters assuming the responsibility."
COMMISSIONER MASTERS expressed appreciation for the comment.
CHAIR COGHILL observed that the Department of Law (DOL) would
provide a different view of the issue when it presents the
Governor's proposed crime bill to the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS informed the committees that the next few
charts would show that in most areas the raw numbers of crimes
were dropping. He also pointed out that crime rates (per 100,000
population) were on the decline in all crime areas.
SENATOR DYSON encouraged members to look at the last 5-6 years
for the trend, not back as far as 2001.
CHAIR COGHILL commented that when the population is small, a few
major events make big difference in the trend lines.
2:17:00 PM
COLONEL MALLARD reviewed the Alaska Violent Crime Offense
Summary for 2001 through 2011 and pointed out that the number of
offenses trends upward, whereas the rate summary shows some
decline. The reported instances of violent crime show mixed
results: aggravated assault trends up, robbery trends up, murder
generally trends down, and the trend for forcible rape is
stagnant. He opined that increased reporting in the last 3-4
years probably accounted for the latter.
COLONEL MALLARD reviewed the Alaska Property Crime offense
Summary for 2001 through 2011 and highlighted that the numbers
of reported property crimes were declining.
CHAIR COGHILL commented that the cynical view is that the number
of reports has declined because the victims have given up on
getting help. "In some areas that is actually true because of
your workforce," he added.
COLONEL MALLARD responded that the detachment commander in the
Fairbanks area designated a patrol unit to investigate property
crimes and it has shown some success. In addition, two
investigators in the Mat-Su Valley have been assigned to
property crimes.
CHAIR COGHILL observed that property crimes cause people to feel
hugely violated and very unrepresented.
2:19:32 PM
COLONEL MALLARD reviewed the 2011 data, which showed that
property crimes represented 81 percent of reports and violent
crimes represented 19 percent. Violent crime reports were broken
down as follows: murder 1 percent, forcible rape 10 percent,
aggravated assault 76 percent, and robbery 13 percent.
CHAIR COGHILL asked if violent crime included both misdemeanors
and felonies.
COLONEL MALLARD responded that they were just felony-level
cases.
Property crimes reports were broken down as follows: burglary 15
percent, larceny/theft 78 percent, and motor vehicle theft 7
percent.
2:20:30 PM
COLONEL MALLARD informed the committee that data for 2008
through 2011 shows a clear upward trend of assaults on Troopers.
The reports differentiate assaults with a firearm, knife, other,
and hands/feet. He said hands/feet assaults increased the most
and this might be due to efforts to educate Troopers about when
it is appropriate to charge assault when there is physical
contact with an officer. He noted that the national trends were
similar; physical assaults on police officers were rising.
CHAIR COGHILL asked in what venue Troopers receive training
about when to charge assault.
COLONEL MALLARD said training continues throughout a person's
career. Troopers are initially educated at the Public Safety
Academy followed by ongoing in-service training about the
difference between physical contact with an officer and
hands/feet assault of an officer.
SENATOR DYSON asked if he would expect the rates to be similar
for all police officers.
COLONEL MALLARD surmised that the trend would be similar
statewide if all the data were collected and analyzed.
SENATOR DYSON observed that knife assaults on Troopers were
close to zero and highlighted that both bodies would see a bill
to remove specialty knives from the list that were illegal under
Alaska law.
2:23:23 PM
CHAIR KELLER asked if data on Trooper assaults was collected
before 2008.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said there was no specific reason for
providing just four years of data because it had been collected
for a number of years. However, it was his belief that there was
better reporting by law enforcement agencies in recent years.
CHAIR COGHILL commented on the change in Trooper demographics
and society in general.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS added that the anecdotal perception, both
statewide and nationally, is that assaults on officers are on
the rise and they seem more severe.
CHAIR COGHILL expressed interest in knowing how many of the
assaults on Troopers fall inside the category of domestic
violence and sexual assault.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG indicated that correctional officer
data would likely show a similar trend.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said he would agree anecdotally.
2:27:31 PM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS enumerated the following FY13 successes:
· Completion of the new crime lab as previously discussed.
· The Public Safety Academy dining hall addition, which will
help meet some of the requirements of feeding officers in
training while in Sitka, will be completed in about a
month.
· A new Post in Selawik opened the first part of the year and
crime statistics and anecdotal information indicate that it
is having a positive effect. The 2012 assault data shows a
large increase in misdemeanor assault arrests and a
corresponding, significant decrease in felony assaults.
· A new King Air 350 was placed into service several months
ago and, as previously discussed, there would be a new
helicopter based in Fairbanks.
· Domestic violence and sexual violence prevention planning.
· Highway safety.
2:29:05 PM
CHAIR COGHILL asked if the community still had a VPSO.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said yes, although the position was vacant
until recently. He offered his belief that the Northwest Arctic
region was still underserved, but DPS had made significant
efforts to get VPSOs in communities in that region.
CHAIR COGHILL asked if the Troopers in Selawik had land and air
capabilities.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said the aircraft that operates out of
Kotzebue is dedicated to moving Troopers where needed within the
region.
CHAIR COGHILL asked about prisoner transport to the Lower 48.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS explained that DPS has moved prisoners
between Alaska and the Lower 48 using seat fares on commercial
aircraft and the King Air, which accommodates up to eight
prisoners at a time. When Goose Creek opens, the Department of
Corrections has another way to bring prisoners back more
economically.
CHAIR KELLER asked for information on the cost per hour to
operate the King Air 350 as opposed to using charter services.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS agreed to follow up with the information.
CHAIR COGHILL said that when he last fished on the Gulkana River
a Fish and Wildlife Trooper was flying around in either a J-4 or
J-5. He asked if DPS or ADF&G managed that plane.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS responded that the Alaska Wildlife Troopers
have a number of Piper Super Cubs. Those are maintained through
the DPS Aircraft Section and primarily used for wildlife
enforcement.
He said he also wanted to highlight that there had been a
concerted effort to get domestic violence and sexual assault
primary prevention programs into CDVSA. He explained that these
programs deal with very specific attempts to change public
norms, social norms, how people view relationships, how they
view what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. For example,
"Green Dot" is a bystander intervention and prevention program,
"Lead On" is a teen leadership program in schools, and "Coaching
Boys into Men" uses coaches to demonstrate leadership and
educate student athletes.
2:37:07 PM
SENATOR DYSON asked to receive a copy of the curriculum and
lesson plans used in the schools.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said he could provide information for
"Coaching Boys into Men" and possibly for "Fourth R."
CHAIR COGHILL recognized that the Council on Domestic Violence
was represented in the audience.
2:38:03 PM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS told the committee that highway safety was
both a success and challenge. The concerted efforts in the last
four years resulted in the lowest number of fatal crashes on
record. The preliminary data from 2012 indicates that it is the
lowest on record for the percentage of DUI and alcohol-related
fatalities. There also appears to be the highest rate of
voluntary seatbelt use. He attributed these successes to
enforcement efforts of the Bureau of Highway Patrol, the efforts
of the Alaska Highway Safety Office, and the efforts within the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) and
EMS organizations in the state.
CHAIR COGHILL mentioned [double] fines and asked the number of
safety corridors in the state.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS described the five highway safety corridors
on the Sterling Highway, Seward Highway, KGB Road, Parks Highway
exiting Wasilla northbound, and another section of the Parks
Highway. He highlighted that DOTPF does not establish a new
safety corridor without an enforcement component. He confirmed
that the fines were double in the safety zones.
SENATOR DYSON asked about a forthcoming report on the meetings
that followed the 8.5-hour shutdown of the Glenn Highway.
COLONEL MALLARD relayed that the report would include
suggestions that could be used statewide. He noted that a
similar group was meeting to discuss the Seward and Sterling
highways and the Peninsula.
SENATOR DYSON said part of the discussion was about options to
keep traffic moving, and those suggestions could affect budgets
for highways.
2:42:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER asked if any consideration was given to
doubling fines in school zones.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS offered to follow up with an answer.
SENATOR MCGUIRE complimented Commissioner Masters on the
improvements due to the safety corridor and additional
patrolling on the Seward Highway.
CHAIR COGHILL spoke of the inconvenience associated with having
a car impounded as evidence after a fatal accident. The
insurance company has no access to the vehicle and cannot settle
the claim. He suggested that there might be a better protocol.
COLONEL MALLARD said the agencies were looking at alternatives
to reduce shutdown times on highways. With regard to the
insurance issue, he expressed hope that the circumstance was
atypical and if not, he would like to hear about it.
CHAIR KELLER highlighted the need for the Knik Crossing.
2:46:53 PM
COMMISSIONER MASTERS reviewed the following challenges that DPS
is currently facing:
· In the last several years, the Division of Alaska State
Troopers has articulated the need to increase core police
services in large urban areas. The population in these
areas has increased steadily, particularly in the Mat-Su
Valley. With the exception of Anchorage, the municipal
police departments have very small footprints within AST's
areas of responsibility. The growth areas are outside those
municipalities so they are dramatically affecting the
Troopers' calls for service. Since 2000, the numbers of
calls for service have doubled in the Mat-Su Valley and
increased markedly in the Fairbanks region and the Kenai
Peninsula. Seventeen Troopers from that post are assigned
to patrol and that is not enough to provide 24/7 coverage.
Staffing deficiencies manifest in a number of ways
including complaints that Trooper responses are not timely.
He relayed that DPS was addressing the need to increase
staffing levels in finance subcommittee discussions.
CHAIR COGHILL said he'd noticed that when Trooper response is
slow, property crime victims are tempted to vindicate themselves
and that may result in another crime.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS agreed.
· VPSO infrastructure and retention is another challenge. DPS
has made concerted efforts to put law enforcement in rural
communities, some with Trooper posts but mostly by adding
VPSOs. In 2008, 45 communities had VPSOs and today 67 or 68
communities are covered. About 65 communities in rural
Alaska would still benefit from VPSO coverage. It is a
shared responsibility with the community and state to
recruit and support these positions.
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER emphasized the importance of supporting
VPSOs in rural Alaska and that the legislature needs to fund
things like rents, supplies, and equipment. The positions that
haven't been filled should be funded because they help with the
infrastructure.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS said the personal services funds for VPSOs
that are available because the position hasn't been filled, are
reinvested into the program to assist communities in basic unmet
infrastructure needs like helping to finish an office, finishing
a roof, changing electrical, putting a heating unit in, and
purchasing gasoline for patrol.
· Another challenge is the impact of federal grant
reductions. DPS currently receives about $15 million in
federal funding and about $4.2 million is needed this year
to backfill that federal funding. In FY14 federal funds
available to the department total about $10 million. Those
funds are used to fund successful positions at the Bureau
of Highway Patrol and Sexual Assault Units. The finance
subcommittee meetings will include discussions about
maintaining those successful positions.
CHAIR COGHILL asked if the positions in the Sexual Assault Unit
were heavily dependent on federal funds.
COMMISSIONER MASTERS explained that DPS has several grant
programs, the largest of which is American Reinvestment Recovery
Act (ARRA) stimulus funds. Those funds were utilized
specifically to fund sexual assault investigators and increase
capabilities in the area of Internet crimes against children,
Internet child pornography, and distribution as well as putting
investigators in child sexual abuse units and adult sexual
assault units in several locations. Those funds will end in
2013.
· The last challenge was the Bureau of Highway Patrol
funding, which is also federal.
CHAIR COGHILL and CHAIR KELLER thanked Commissioner Masters and
Colonel Mallard.
2:57:42 PM
There being no further business to come before the committees,
Chair Coghill adjourned the Senate and House Judiciary Standing
Committees at 2:57 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Public Safety Judiciary Committee Presentation.pdf |
SJUD 1/25/2013 1:30:00 PM |