Residents Wonder if Anchorage is Getting More Dangerous

Reeves, Koenig cases have some residents on edge

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: May 15, 2012 at 7:22 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 16, 2012 at 11:58 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Samantha Koenig and Clinton Reeves were both missing for a significant period before their bodies were found.

The searches and the murders got a lot of news coverage and many Anchorage residents were involved in both searches.

The crimes happened close together, prompting the question: Is Anchorage getting more dangerous?

There's no doubt that some people are particularly unnerved by these murders.

But from the responses KTVA got Tuesday, it's difficult to say how widespread the damage might be to the sense of security in Anchorage.

High-profile murders have hurt Anchorage as a whole.

"I do think that a lot of people are feeling less safe and less secure, particularly women and people who love the women in their lives, are feeling concerned about it, and I think the Samantha Koenig case was really alarming in that respect,” said Susan Sullivan of Victims for Justice.

Israel Keyes has been charged in Koenig’s death and police say it was a random crime, one reason that some people are on edge.

"I can just tell you anecdotally, I have two ladies that work in my office, and one of them said, ‘yeah, I'm very careful where I go now,'” said Senator Hollis French, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “'I've started to carry mace in my purse, which I didn't do before.’ And so I think people are on alert."

Some people don't see enough change. Therapist Deborah Stamm is one.

"I think at first there was a sense of urgency and then, as always seems to happen, it kind of dies down rapidly. My concern is that there is no real sense of urgency that is strong enough to make a change in the way people conduct themselves in everyday life. I still see the girls at the little coffee shops all by themselves in there."

But police view both the Koenig and Reeves murders as aberrations, not part of any pattern.

"These were tragedies for us, there's no doubt about it, and they were the focus of both the department and the community, and we absolutely understand that,” said Deputy Chief Steve Hebbe. “But as far as any wider thing other than just the very sorrowful feelings that the whole community and the department share, I don't think they should have any extra concerns."

So it might be the perception of change, not change itself.

Sullivan says that the recent high-profile murder cases aside, Anchorage was and is dangerous for women, as rape statistics continue to show.

She and French applaud Governor Sean Parnell for his “Choose Respect” campaign, although they say it's too soon to know if it's working.
 

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cwt said on Friday, May 25 at 10:41 AM

I hope my daughter mo0ves from there use to want to visit but not anymore..........

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ShameOnYou said on Wednesday, May 23 at 4:17 PM

How in the hell do you guys call yourselves journalists when you produce a turd of a story like this that doesn't contain any factual information. How many murders were there last year? How about this year? Last 10 years? Let's talk about the FACTS instead of how people FEEL about how safe Anchorage is. According to the Muni webpage, Anchorage had 20 murders in 2006, 23 in 2007, 10 in 2008, 15 in 2009, 13 in 2010. So far this year, there have been 9, which would seem high - but murderers don't usually keep schedules - or maybe they are going to take the summer off. By comparison, Tacoma, WA (which is about the same population as ANC) has averaged 16 murders per year (1999-2010, city-data.com). That was a total of two quick google searches and simple math. Why do people in ANC feel less safe? There might be a reason, but this story does nothing to help present a rational, logical view. Pox on you ktva news!

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tcaros said on Thursday, May 17 at 5:54 PM

Alaska is full of drug addicts and brain froze people. That's why they elected the mindless Sarah Palin. There's alot of home users, marijuana and meth.

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thisnaturesbeing said on Thursday, May 17 at 9:50 AM

I am Alaskan Yupik,yes not only Anchorage faces these crimes which aren't getting less or small. I've seen where that cultural differences are the major reason. Where people who come from abroad are coming here for change are also bringing their differences expecting uc to change What I've said in the past is that one thing that will never be changed is the foundation where we stand consists of the original ancestors.Feel the earth move and have a great quaker day.

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Norma Jean said on Wednesday, May 16 at 2:13 PM

I've lived in Anchorage for 20yrs and it was peacefull, now it's becoming dangerous because of the flow of many people. I wish so many people didn't start moving in, because I had to move to get away from the crowding.

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fluffy said on Wednesday, May 16 at 1:37 PM

You really think a drug addicted thug is gona respect someone. Really, live in the real world drug addicts need help themselves. If we don't teach our children to have respect you think their gona find it on the street.

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, May 16 at 12:09 PM

a change in the type of police officers would make a difference, stop focusing on the small nickle and dime crimes and focus on the real criminals, maybe then you'll see a difference.

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geincolo said on Wednesday, May 16 at 12:07 PM

More people = more miscreants = more of every type of crime. It happens anywhere on the planet. It has for centuries. This is no keen observation. What...you didn't notice?

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Israel said on Wednesday, May 16 at 7:57 AM

I'm sorry, but people are so oblivious to what is going on at Anchorage. This is like number 208458425245 murder case thats been happening to Anchorage and everyone treats it like its completely new. Maybe its because of the profile of the victim :D Yet everyone acts like this is the end of the world. WAKE THE EFF UP!

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, May 15 at 9:06 PM

Anchorage was dangerous in the 70's nothing but drug dealing and killings...nothing has changed...nothing changes days go by...when will we learn? Never!

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