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People Crimes — Anchorage Police Department

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SEX Crimes

Special Victims Unit

MISSION: The mission of the Anchorage Police Department Special Victims Unit (SVU) is to investigate sexual assault crimes in Anchorage through the collection and preservation of physical evidence, identification and apprehension of suspects, and assisting with criminal prosecution of sexual assault defendants. Furthermore, this unit works with other police agencies, women’s advocacy organizations, and community groups to help reduce and prevent sexual assaults through public education and dissemination of information pertaining to offender activities and methods of operations.

TYPES OF CRIMES: SVU primarily investigates criminal cases involving sexual assault, kidnapping, assaults, and stalking. Including crimes involving child sexual assaults, physical child abuse, custodial interference, and missing/runaway children.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The SVU is a high-volume call-out unit with a considerable workload involving emergent cases. The SVU responds to priority cases 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The unit works collaboratively with numerous outside agencies such as STAR, AST, SART, AWAIC, Alaska Cares, Department of Law, and many other local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions:

+ How do I report a sexual assault?

Call 3-1-1 and report it to a patrol officer and then it will be screened by an Special Victims Unit supervisor.

If in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Crimes Against Children Unit

MISSION: The mission of the Anchorage Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) is to investigate felony sexual assaults of children under 15 years of age, felony sexual abuse of minors, felony physical child abuse, missing and runaway children, and felony custodial interference with the ultimate goal of prosecution.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The unit provides investigative services aimed at the effective investigation of (felony) offenses in which children are victims through the collection and preservation of physical evidence; identification and apprehension of suspects and assisting in the criminal prosecution of defendants charged with crimes against children.

The CACU is a high-volume call-out unit with a considerable workload involving emergent cases. The CACU responds to priority cases 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The CACU works collaboratively with numerous outside agencies such as STAR, AST, SART, AWAIC, Alaska Cares, Department of Law and many other local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions:

+ A child just disclosed sexual abuse to me, what do I do?

If the child discloses when the abuse occured or if they are is still in the home of the offender or if the offender is returning soon, that is important information the investigators will want to know. But do not continue to ask questions once there has been a disclosure of abuse. Investigators want to ask questions in a forensic setting.

If a child is currently in danger, call 9-1-1.

All other reports can be made by calling 3-1-1 or (907) 786-8900, the non-emergency numbers for APD. A patrol officer will respond and talk with you if the victim is 15 and under. Children 16 and older may be interviewed by the patrol officer on scene to determine elements of a crime.

+ I am a mandatory reporter and I need to report a historical sexual abuse allegation, how do I do that?

Historical abuse, when there is no biological evidence to collect (more than 7 days have passed) and the victim is no longer having contact with the offender, can be made to APD via email at ReportChildAbusetoAPD@anchorageak.gov. If the offense occurred within 7 days and/or the victim has contact with the suspect, contact APD by calling 3-1-1 or (907) 786-8900, the non-emergency numbers for APD.

If a child is currently in danger, call 9-1-1.

Remember that mandatory reporters must report suspected sexual abuse to law enforcement as well as the Office of Children Services (OCS). Reporting to OCS can be done via email at reportchildabuse@alaska.gov or 1 (800) 478-4444.

+ How are children interviewed reference sexual abuse?

Children are interviewed at a child advocacy center; in Anchorage it is Alaska CARES. Children are only interviewed by persons trained in Child First Forensic Interviewing which is a nationally accredited process. The interview process is specifically done in a method so as not to introduce leading information to the child being interviewed. The interview could be conducted by a plain clothed police detective, an Office of Children’s Services worker, or a forensic interviewer from Alaska CARES. Families will be assisted at Alaska CARES by an advocate and a forensic nurse will be available for any medical concerns.

+ After I have reported suspected sexual abuse, what happens next?

The report will be screened for urgency, are there injuries, is there biological evidence to collect, etc.? Those cases will be assigned immediately and seen as soon as possible. Historical cases (no injuries, no biological evidence, child is not with the offender) will be triaged and if the case meets assignment criteria a detective will be assigned as soon as practical. This could take up to a week. After a detective is assigned, they should contact the parent or guardian of the victim within three business days to explain the next steps and schedule the forensic interview.

+ What if the victim lives in Anchorage and the sexual abuse occurred outside Anchorage or in another state?

Reports of sexual abuse that occurred in communities outside the Municipality of Anchorage or in other states can still be made to APD. APD will take the report and review the case. APD can investigate as an agency assist and work with other law enforcement agencies to complete the investigation.

Cyber Crimes Unit

MISSION: The central purpose of the Anchorage Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit is to conduct, facilitate, and support the investigation, training, and education of computer and technology-related crimes for the Anchorage Police Department. The field of computers, technology-related, and Internet-facilitated crime is one that is evolving and developing at a tremendous pace. The Anchorage Police Department understands the importance of investigating crimes in which computer-related technology is involved.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The Cyber Crimes Unit is primarily responsible for the investigation of Internet-related crime to include the possession and distribution of child pornography, the enticement of minors for sexual purposes, and the distribution of pornographic images to minors.

APD Cyber Crimes Unit does not investigate financial crimes, nor misdemeanors such as harassment. Their primary focus is the online enticement of minors and the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography. They do not investigate malware, phone scams, hacking, intrusions, espionage, or conspiracy theories.

Frequently Asked Questions:

+ I've discovered concerning images on my child's device. What do I do?

Call 3-1-1 and make a report to an officer and then it will be screened by a Cyber Crimes Unit supervisor.

+ I just got what I think is a scam call. Can the Cyber Crimes Unit help me?

The APD Cyber Crimes Unit does not investigate malware, phone scams, hacking, intrusions, espionage, or conspiracy theories.

Report anything you think may be a fraud, scam, or bad business practice to the Federal Trade Commission. For ideas of what you might report to the FTC, check out consumer.ftc.gov for more information and advice, or take a look at the FTC's latest cases at ftc.gov.

Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force

In September 2007, the Anchorage Police Department was awarded a financial grant from the United States Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Program (OJJDP) to establish and administrate a statewide Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

MISSION: The ICAC Task Force helps Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communication systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children. The Program is funded by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 3,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies that are engaged in proactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions.

TYPES OF CRIMES: The National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, consists of state and local law enforcement task forces dedicated to developing effective responses to online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: Each state and local task force that is part of the national program shall:

  1. consist of State and local investigators, prosecutors, forensic specialists, and education specialists who are dedicated to addressing the goals of the task force;

  2. engage in proactive investigations, forensic examinations, and effective prosecutions of Internet crimes against children;

  3. provide forensic, preventive, and investigative assistance to parents, educators, prosecutors, law enforcement, and others concerned with Internet crimes against children;

  4. develop multijurisdictional, multiagency partnerships and responses to Internet crimes against children offenses through ongoing informational, administrative, and technological support to other State and local law enforcement agencies, as a means for such agencies to acquire the necessary knowledge, personnel, and specialized equipment to investigate and prosecute such offenses;

  5. participate in nationally coordinated investigations in any case in which the Attorney General determines such participation to be necessary, as permitted by the available resources of such task force;

  6. establish or adopt investigative and prosecution standards consistent with established norms, to which such task force shall comply;

  7. investigate and seek prosecution on tips related to Internet crimes against children.

The Anchorage Police Department has been at the forefront of aggressively investigating and prosecuting manufacturers, distributors, and consumers of child pornography. As the largest law enforcement agency in the state, the Anchorage Police Department continues to provide leadership and guidance to 26 affiliate agencies in investigating technology-based crimes against children. OJJDP dollars will be used to combat these crimes by providing funding to support travel, training, overtime, and computer and investigative equipment to the Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which serves a population base of over 739,786. The task force will attempt to increase the number of state law enforcement affiliate members by working with agencies individually and collectively to provide training and support that will enable them to investigate computer crimes against children. The Alaska ICAC Task Force will continue to conduct public outreach and education to law enforcement agencies, members of the judicial system and legislature, and community members on the dangers posed to children via the Internet and how to respond to this ever-increasing threat.