APD delays release of body-worn camera footage in shooting death of 16-year-old girl

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Anchorage Police Department announced Friday that it will delay the release of body-worn camera footage of an August shooting of a young girl, despite policies governing the department to release the footage to the public 45 days after a police-involved shooting.

The announcement comes on the 45th day since 16-year-old Easter Leafa was shot and killed by officers inside her home.

Leafa’s death spurred protests and rallies by community members in the days since calling for change.

She died just before starting her junior year at Bettye Davis East High School.

In a letter written to APD Chief Sean Case on Sep. 24, the Alaska Department of Law Office of Special Prosecutions (OSP) “requested the release delay only if its investigation extended beyond the 45-day window articulated in APD’s BWC policy.”

OSP said the delay request was based on grounds to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigation.

The police department’s BWC policy states that delays may be made by the chief of police for the safety of involved individuals, the integrity of active investigations, confidential sources or investigative techniques, as well as the constitutional rights of the accused.

In a written statement, community relations unit director Shelly Wozniak stated that in order to ensure justice is served, criminal investigations must be thorough.

“When its investigation is complete, OSP will send a letter articulating its decision to APD. If OSP should decline to press charges, we will release both the Critical Incident Summary and the privacy redacted, unedited BWC footage at that time,” her statement read.

In a phone call with Alaska’s News Source Friday afternoon, Wozniak stated the footage will be released once the investigation is complete.

Alaska’s News Source has reached out to Leafa’s family for comment.

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