Anchorage Boosts Tourism Safety with Extra Patrols

0:00It's April 17th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Anchorage News Today, local news powered by AI. Anchorage is pumping tourism cash into extra police patrols downtown to keep things safe as summer tourists roll in. They're funding two officers on foot, 14 hours a day, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., all on overtime so it doesn't pull cops, from other neighborhoods. This kicked off back in February for the Ferrandevoo Festival and lines up with new city rules from April 8th, they give police more power to. Handle public intoxication, indecent exposure, and threats. The money comes from a 4% hotel tax boaters approved in 1979, with $650,000 set aside for these. Patrols through the end of the year. Folks are seeing real impact already, between April 8th and 15th, officers made 321 contacts downtown. 182 led to people voluntarily stopping bad behavior, while 4 arrests happened for warrants or

1:01trespassing, 34 folks got, sent to the safety center, and 4 took social service referrals. Officers are bidding for these shifts, and it's popular, capped in case calls it a fun detail, with plenty signing up, rotating through to stay fresh. They link up fast with medics, counselors, and special units for mental health, addiction, or homelessness, crises. As downtown gets the security boost, the city's also using tourism funds for park upgrades, a new library branch, and even mobile restrooms, all too. Make anchorages living room feel welcoming for everyone year round.