In Anchorage, Alaska, the city has released some details about an expert review of a tragic officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of 16-year-old Easter Leafa. The incident happened last August in a northeast Anchorage apartment where Leafa lived with her family.
The shooting occurred when Leafa, holding a knife, was confronted by police. Officer Alexander Roman was the one who fired the fatal shot. After a thorough investigation, the state ruled that Roman was “legally justified” in his actions. Following this decision, the Anchorage Police Department made the body-camera footage from the night of August 13, 2024, publicly available.
To dig deeper into what happened and how such incidents might be prevented in the future, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance brought in an outside expert, Christopher Darcy, to review the case. Darcy’s report includes 11 recommendations for the police department, covering areas like leadership, communication, de-escalation techniques, cultural understanding, and post-incident procedures. However, Municipal Attorney Eva Gardner explained that “legal constraints” limit how much of the report can be shared with the public.
Leafa’s death has deeply affected the community. Vigils and prayer gatherings have been held in her memory, while others have protested, demanding accountability from the Anchorage Police Department.
At a press conference, Mayor LaFrance and Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case laid out their plans to reduce officer-involved shootings in the city. They emphasized the need for change and announced a second phase of action. This phase includes bringing in another independent review, focusing on police policies and training in areas like cultural awareness and better tactical decision-making.
The city is actively seeking proposals for this review, with a submission deadline of February 13. This ongoing effort aims to address the community’s concerns and improve the way such critical situations are handled in the future.
