Protesters call on Anchorage police to release bodycam videos of the shooting

Family members of an Anchorage man shot and killed by police took part in a demonstration in downtown Anchorage on Saturday to demand that police release body-worn camera footage of the incident.

About 80 people gathered on the Delaney Park Strip and marched to Anchorage Police Department headquarters on Fourth Avenue to demand that Police Chief Bianca Cross release videos of the May 13 shooting of Kristopher Handy outside a West Anchorage apartment building.

“It's the first time we've had more than enough footage to see what happened from all angles. It's the first time we've had policies that say the footage has to be released,” said Anchorage resident Jasmin Smith. “And the police chief has the authority to do that, and it should happen as quickly as possible.”

The police have stated that they will not release the videos until the ongoing investigation is completed.

Protesters held signs reading “Release the footage immediately” and chanted them as they marched through the streets. Outside police headquarters at Fourth Avenue and H Street, Handy's brother, Travis Handy, told the crowd that the event showed that this was a bigger problem than just an isolated incident.

“They want answers,” Travis Handy said of the assembled crowd. “We want answers.”

Kristopher Handy was shot and killed by several police officers outside his West Anchorage apartment. Police said they responded to a report of an altercation between a man and a woman in an apartment. His fiancée later said Handy talked about hurting himself and she had messaged a neighbor asking her to call 911 because he was scaring her. Handy left the building with a shotgun in his hand, she said, and was killed moments later.

After the incident, Anchorage police released a statement saying Handy pointed “a long gun” at officers. Home surveillance video showed police telling Handy to come out of the apartment with his hands raised. Handy then walked out with something in his right hand. It is not clear whether Handy raised a weapon.

Cross, the Anchorage police chief, responded to concerns about what many felt was an inconsistent police account. Cross said the original description came from a witness report. “After the Office of Special Prosecutions (OSP) completes the criminal portion of the investigation and the APD Internal Investigations Division completes the procedural portion, we can resolve any outstanding issues,” the statement said.

That's not early enough, Handy's family members said on Saturday.

“This is a landmark situation,” said Monte Handy, Kristopher's father. “And it should be that way, and it should be corrected.”

“I am confident that the body camera and dashboard camera footage will clearly show what we believe happened. And that is one reason why it is not being released,” said Travis Handy.

In a written statement following the protest, Anchorage Police spokeswoman Renee Oistad said the department understands the public interest in the case.

“Our priority is to ensure that everyone involved in an open criminal investigation is treated lawfully, fairly and respectfully. Every citizen in such a situation has the right to be treated equally. The APD has a long tradition of not releasing evidence in investigations until the case is closed. We will continue that practice in this case as well,” the statement said.

Travis Handy said he spoke with Cross, who offered his condolences but reiterated that the video would not be released immediately because of the ongoing investigation. Monte Handy said the family intends to continue appealing to both the outgoing and incoming mayors of Anchorage, as well as the Anchorage Assembly. Assemblyman Felix Rivera joined the march Saturday, carrying a sign that read, “Release the footage.”

“We're going to continue to put as much pressure as we can on this department to release the footage. All of it, unedited, and the 911 call,” Monte Handy said. “We need to get closure.”

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