ANCHORAGE - The race for the Anchorage mayoral election is heating up, with accusations about the character of incumbent Dan Sullivan and challenger Paul Honeman coming from each side against the other.
It is all tied to an ugly chapter in city history – the serial rapes by former Anchorage Police Department (APD) officer Anthony Rollins.
Radio talk show host Casey Reynolds handled Sullivan’s transition when he was mayor-elect and, Monday, suggested in an on-air rant, based on a report by the Anchorage Daily News, that Honeman looked the other way when Rollins was committing sexual indiscretions at the police station.
"So we're talking [about] if you have thoughts on Mr. Honeman getting caught, or catching a guy with his pants down,” said Reynolds in his radio broadcast, “I guess Mr. Honeman wasn't caught his pants down, but he caught another guy with his pants down, and that guy just happened to be raping and abusing women, and Mr. Honeman turned around and walked away and apparently didn't do anything about it."
Honeman has denied these accusations, particularly the way Reynolds phrased them. He said it is a case of dirty politics Mayor Sullivan is responsible for.
Reynolds was referring to an incident in August 2005, when everyone agrees that Honeman walked in on Rollins sitting at an awkward position at his desk, possibly with a woman underneath the desk.
“No overt sexual acts were taking place; nor was a rape taking place,” said Honeman. “The suggestion that's what was happening is wrong and slanderous.” He said he turned over a detailed description of the incident to the municipal attorney, who is preparing the city’s defense in a lawsuit being brought on by some of Rollins' victims.
“Contrary to what was reported, I did not walk away,” said Honeman. “I would never walk away.
"I reported my discovery to my direct report boss, Deputy Chief Rob Heun, at the time. He was unavailable; I left a message for an urgent response. I also reported what I [saw] to Rollins' division director, Deputy Chief Audie Holloway. Deputy Chief Holloway advised me he would handle the incident," said Honeman.
He said Reynolds is spreading lies to help his former boss's campaign.
“Perhaps I should have thrown in the word 'went on to' rape many women and then [Honeman] went on to not do enough to stop it,” said Reynolds.
According to Sullivan, Honeman is being understandably defensive, given what happened at APD. “But there's absolutely no connection between my campaign and any of the radio stations."
"I think everyone keeps a pretty good firewall between that,” said Sullivan. “So quite frankly Mr. Honeman's allegations really are just a little bit silly."
In a telephone interview Tuesday, Sullivan had suggested that Honeman was lashing out because of his regrets about not doing more about Rollins at the time.
Reynolds said the focus should be on the victims' lawsuit.
"The point here is did APD know, including Mr. Honeman, as supervisor, know these things were going on, and do enough to address it or did they let it go on to the point where these women got raped and abused?"
KTVA was unable to get a comment from APD, as the spokesman cited advice from the municipal attorney about avoiding comments on pending litigation.
Rob Heun, now the U.S Marshall for Alaska, said he does not remember the voicemail message from Honeman, but said "it very well could have happened."
Audie Holloway is said to be overseas at this time.
