FRANKLYWNOW - APD hits streets, wants input on how they’re doing

It’s a long day for Kollin Wallace. He’s not selling anything as he goes door-to-door in the Fairview neighborhood. The 22-year-old, originally from Palmer, is looking for information. That’s not easy.

“I don’t want to talk about it, I’m okay,” one person told Wallace.

Others do talk and that helps Wallace.

“We’ve been getting a lot of homeless lately, hang out and camp across the street in the green space,” Wallace told KTVA.

He has a vested interest in what neighbors tell him, as he will soon help protect them. Wallace is among the 28 recruits who will graduate from the Police Academy Thursday.

“There are legitimate concerns people have. Whether people feel they’re no getting their opinion heard, this survey will definitely help,” said Wallace.

Fairview is one of three neighborhoods where Anchorage Police implemented foot patrols back in March, along with Mountain View and Spenard.

Police Captain Sean Case says it is important for officers to have non-police related contact with the community.

“What they’re seeing, what they’re hearing because they’re there 24 hours a day, they live there, they see it through a different lens,” said Case.

Recruits go door-to-door to conduct the survey that lets officers know how they are doing.

“We want them to learn that from day one at the Academy [that] we have spare time, we want to have those contacts with the public,” said Case.

Kollin Wallace learns more about the people he will serve one knock, and one step at a time.

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