By SUZANNE DOWNING
July 17, 2026 — A far-left activist organization is mobilizing supporters to pressure the Anchorage Assembly into giving a proposed public safety commission broad investigative powers over the Anchorage Police Department.
Native Movement is urging its supporters to testify at Tuesday’s Assembly meeting in favor of amendments that would give the proposed Public Safety Partnership Commission subpoena power, independent investigative authority, and expanded access to information.
“Take action to call for community oversight of the Anchorage Police Department!” the organization wrote on social media. “Tell the assembly we need strong community oversight of APD. Let them know that you support amendments that strengthen the commission with subpoena power, investigative authority, and enhanced access to information.”
The campaign comes after Assembly leaders substantially scaled back AO 2026-62 in response to criticism from residents and law enforcement supporters.
Anchorage Assembly scales back controversial public safety oversight proposal, but debate isn’t over
As The Alaska Story previously reported, the latest version would create an advisory commission focused on community engagement, public safety policy, and system-level reviews. It specifically bars commissioners from conducting independent investigations, participating in personnel or disciplinary decisions, or seeking information about active investigations.
Those limitations are precisely what Native Movement and allied organizations now want the Assembly to reverse.
Native Movement participated in the Assembly’s 2025 task force created to “reimagine” the former Public Safety Advisory Commission. Amanda Bremner, the organization’s deputy director, argued during an Assembly work session that allowing public safety representatives to vote on commission business would undermine the panel’s independence.
“A commission where the Anchorage Police Department can vote against its own recommendations is not community-led, it’s not accountability, and it is precisely what communities have pushed back against since 2024,” Bremner said, arguing against having police representation on the commission.
Assembly Member Sydney Scout is proposing amendments that would move the commission closer to the powerful police-oversight body sought by Native Movement. One amendment would allow the commission to conduct investigations, while another would give commissioners greater access to confidential municipal records.
Scout has argued that commissioners need enhanced access to information so their recommendations can be based on police records, data, and interviews with people involved in incidents.
The push raises renewed questions about whether the commission is intended to serve as a forum for cooperation or as an investigative body operating alongside existing police, prosecutorial, internal-affairs, union, ombudsman, and court processes.
Subpoena power would be an especially significant expansion. It could allow a politically appointed commission of unelected volunteers to compel testimony or demand documents while reviewing police conduct and public safety policies.
Assembly Chair Anna Brawley and Assembly Member Kameron Perez-Verdia, the ordinance’s current sponsors, have defended the scaled-back approach as a partnership model rather than an oversight board. Perez-Verdia said at Tuesday’s work session that investigative oversight is a separate question from the commission now under consideration.
Native Movement’s campaign shows that the debate is far from settled. Even if the Assembly approves the advisory version Tuesday, the commission would be embedded in municipal code and a future Assembly majority could expand its powers.
The continued public hearing on AO 2026-62 is scheduled for 6 pm Tuesday, July 21, in the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac Library. The Assembly could vote on the ordinance and proposed amendments that evening.
Native Movement is asking supporters to submit written testimony, contact Assembly members, or register by 5 pm Monday, July 20, to testify by telephone.
