ANCHORAGE (AP) â The number of homicides in Alaska s largest city fell by nearly half in 2020 compared with the previous year, authorities said.
The Anchorage Police Department said 18 people were killed in the city and three men were fatally shot by police last year, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.
Significantly less violence was reported in general, including shootings, Police Chief Justin Doll said.
Data about calls related to gunfire wasn t immediately available.
Along with the decrease in homicides, there were lower instances of other types of crime, including thefts, burglaries, vandalism and sexual assaults.
Doll said it was unclear whether the drop in crime could be tied to the unique circumstances of the year, when the coronavirus pandemic closed businesses, strained hospitals and prompted high rates of unemployment.
Dedicated police unit investigates Anchorage s cold cases
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Dedicated Anchorage police unit investigating cold cases
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December 10, 2020 - 6:10 AM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Anchorage Police Department has formed a unit of officers to work on cold cases with the intent of solving unresolved investigations involving up to 125 victims.
The unit established earlier this year has spent months combing through files of cold cases, which receive the designation after three years without leads or productive avenues to pursue, Alaskaâs News Source reported Tuesday.
Lt. Jack Carson said the unit he now commands is the first to which the department has dedicated full-time resources for cold cases.
The unit has two detectives and a shared clerk, with Carson and Sgt. Bianca Cross supervising their activities.