Public invited to query law enforcement leadership at town hall

WASILLA — On Wednesday, Jan. 4, District 8 House Representative Mark Neuman and District 7 Representative-elect Colleen Sullivan Leonard will host a Public Safety Town Hall Meeting at the Menard Sports Center, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Local law enforcement officials, including from the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Department of Public Safety, will answer the public’s questions about crime and public safety in the Mat-Su Valley.

Dept. of Public Safety commissioner Walt Monegan will be there. His department oversees AST, wildlife troopers, state fire safety, and the Alaska Police Standards and Alaska Fire Standards councils.

Monegan said he anticipates fielding questions about matters that have been of concern recently in the valley, including the opioid epidemic, criminal code reform bill SB91, the recent trooper station closure in Talkeetna, and state budget impacts to public safety.

When asked what are the top three major issues affecting public safety in Alaska today, Monegan said, “Candidly, it’s our ability to respond to all the calls. We’re short staffed. And that’s something that’s not new to just about every PD across the country, really.”

A second major concern has been how to address Alaska’s opioid epidemic, he said. Treatment options for addicts remain sparse throughout Alaska.

“I think we would like to see a more aggressive attack,” Monegan said, “that calls for partnerships between state, federal and local, and what has to be some citizens willing to partake in that as well.”

Budget concerns are also high on the list, he said, with the future impacts on public safety unclear.

“Most of us look downstream—how’s this budget situation going to further impact us? That remains to be seen. I think the governor’s been pretty clear on what happens if we do nothing. So whatever we collectively do as a state, we need to do it together.”