Juneau residents call for more accountability after deadly police shooting

People capable nan Assembly Chamber astatine Juneau’s City Hall connected Monday, July 29, 2024. (Clarise Larson/KTOO)

Nearly a twelve residents testified successful beforehand of nan Juneau Assembly Monday nighttime calling for much accountability from section rule enforcement successful the wake of a deadly shooting earlier this month. 

Many testifiers, for illustration Bonilyn Parker, asked nan Assembly and Juneau Police Department for much transparency astir what occurred erstwhile constabulary changeable and killed Steven Kissack downtown, and what’s being done to extremity akin situations from happening again. 

“This arena was traumatizing for everyone progressive — Steven’s friends and family, nan galore eyewitnesses and nan officers involved,” she said. 

Juneau constabulary officials opportunity they scheme to merchandise nan assemblage camera footage, but not until nan investigation is complete.

In an interview, Deputy Chief of Police Krag Campbell said it would beryllium shared pinch nan nationalist aft nan authorities Office of Special Prosecution gives a determination astir whether nan shooting was justified. 

“The timeline that we’re looking astatine is going to beryllium nary later than 30 days aft nan Office of Special Prosecutions has released their last study connected nan reappraisal of nan shooting,” he said. 

Kissack was unhoused, and he and his dog, Juno, were acquainted faces to those who unrecorded and activity successful nan downtown area. Multiple videos of nan midday shooting were captured by witnesses and person been shared connected societal media and by news outlets.

Since his death, location person been vigils, petitions and protests held by group sharing their sadness and anger astir nan handling of nan situation. 

At nan Monday nighttime meeting, testifiers presented a organization missive pinch much than 300 signatures from individuals and businesses calling nan shooting “unacceptable” and asking nan metropolis and constabulary to guarantee it doesn’t hap again. 

Jessica Gray pinch nan National Alliance connected Mental Illness Juneau asked nan Assembly to return action to summation support for intelligence wellness services for nan section unhoused population. 

“We cognize nan way guardant isn’t going to beryllium easy, but location has to beryllium a systemic alteration to guarantee that this calamity does not hap again,” she said.

Fatal constabulary shootings are not communal successful Juneau, but Anchorage constabulary person changeable 5 group — 3 of them fatally — since mid-May.

Similar nationalist outcry location prompted nan Anchorage constabulary section to enact a caller assemblage camera policy just 2 weeks ago. The caller argumentation mandates nan merchandise of footage of constabulary shootings wrong 45 days of nan incident.

JPD’s current policies do not outline a timeline for erstwhile assemblage camera footage is released to nan public. But Campbell said nan section plans to reappraisal and perchance revise its policies connected assemblage cameras successful nan adjacent fewer months.

The Office of Special Prosecutions has not provided an expected timeline for its investigation.