Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case (left) and Mayor Suzanne LaFrance speak to reporters connected Aug. 15, 2024 astatine APD headquarters. (Wesley Early/Alaska Public Media)

The Anchorage Police Department is delaying nan merchandise of nan assemblage camera footage of officers shooting and sidesplitting 16-year-old Easter Leafa last month. 

In a connection connected Friday, APD officials said that nan petition for nan hold came from nan authorities Office of Special Prosecutions, which is presently reviewing nan shooting to find if criminal charges against officers progressive successful nan shooting are warranted. In a missive to Chief Sean Case this week, OSP officials said nan hold “safeguards nan integrity of its progressive criminal investigation and protects nan law authorities of nan accused,” according to APD’s statement.  

Under APD’s assemblage camera policy, footage of captious incidents, for illustration constabulary shootings, is expected to beryllium released to nan nationalist wrong 45 days, but nan main tin hold nan merchandise for a number of reasons. Friday marks 45 days since nan fatal shooting.

Requests for remark to nan Anchorage Police Department were directed to nan Office of Special Prosecutions. A spokesperson for OSP did not respond Friday to a petition for remark aliases for a transcript of nan missive sent to Chief Case. 

Leafa was killed by constabulary connected Aug. 13 aft officers responded to a home conflict astatine her home. Officers were initially called to nan location aft Leafa’s sister called 911, saying she was threatening others pinch a knife. 

Leafa is nan 4th personification fatally changeable by Anchorage constabulary this year. 

Shortly aft Leafa’s killing, Anchorage Mayor Suzane LaFrance announced a bid of reforms to nan constabulary department, including nan creation of a national constabulary reappraisal board, a reappraisal of nan training officers acquisition during nan constabulary academy and a reappraisal of nan past 15 years of constabulary shootings. 

LaFrance besides announced that nan soul APD investigation of Leafa’s shooting will beryllium conducted by an extracurricular third-party investigator.

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