Natives in Aniak claim troopers use racial profiling
Published Saturday, February 23, 2008
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Stumble It!Tribal leaders in Aniak say Alaska Natives are being unfairly targeted by law enforcement officers in the Western Alaska village, a claim that Alaska State Troopers deny.
Members of the tribal council are asking for the removal of three state troopers serving in the predominantly Native community about 320 miles west of Anchorage, council chief Wayne Morgan told the Anchorage Daily News.
They are alleging that Natives are being harassed by checkpoints, unlawful searches, unwanted questions and needless arrests.
They detailed their concerns in a letter to troopers last week.
Troopers “strongly oppose” allegations that their actions unfairly targeted Natives, and they won’t be leaving the village, Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
“We do not have the option to not serve a group of people,” she said. “We can’t just up and leave. That’s just not an option.”
Troopers sent a ranking representative to meet this week with the village council and the general public.
At the meetings, troopers went through the list of complaints point-by-point to explain how individuals broke the law and why the arrests weren’t racially motivated, Peters said.
Morgan said the meetings addressed some of the concerns but left other issues unresolved. While he understands the law needs to be followed, he said it seems it’s not fairly applied in Aniak.
“We feel it’s still an issue and it’s hurting our Native people,” Morgan said. “Now we need to know where to go from here when we’re told the law’s the law.”
Troopers have taken the allegations seriously, said Peters.
She said the meetings have been largely positive and most people understood why troopers need to be in Aniak.
But Morgan says troopers mostly pointed the blame at villagers, saying it was their own actions — like drinking and drug use — that are to blame, not their race.
“We’re bringing up people that are not doing stuff like that, people that are getting stopped and searched when they’re riding around legally,” Morgan said.
Peters said the claims are still being looked into and a written response will be sent to the council following completion of the investigation. A trooper representative, based out of Bethel, was invited back to keep problems in check before they boil over in the future, Peters said.
There are three troopers in the village, including a fish and wildlife enforcement officer. An additional position is unfilled.
Community Discussion
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You would think that an area inhabited by mostly, or all native Americans, that there would be native American troopers among those that patrol said area.
Yes, that would be great if there where more native State Troopers...Unfortunately, there are a minimum of 20 vacancies state wide within the Troopers and that number is expected to grow since the Troopers are paid considerably less than their counterparts working for municipalities. Also, I can guarantee that the troopers assigned to Aniak are there not necessariarly because that is a choice assignment, rather they are there because unlike many other state jobs, the troopers sign up with the understanding they will be transferred to where they are needed. Anyone who thinks they can do the job better than how its currently being done can apply...the State Troopers are hiring.
Maybe I'm missing something here. In a predominately native village, wouldn't most of the AST response be to native people? It sounds like the complaint is about over enhusiastic law enforcement, not racial profiling. Race relations can be tough enough, without throwing journalistic gasoline in the fire. The AP seems to have a purpose with this article.
These complaints are coming from people that have a high school mascot of the "Aniak Half-Breeds" and proudly wear their school shirts. Also, the complaints are coming from a source where Sexual Assault and Child Abuse are nearly viewed as part of the "culture" and some "parents" (I use the term loosely) don't report the offenses against their children because, "It (sexual abuse) happened to me, so it's going to happen to them. That's just how it is out here." Normally, shortly after statements like this one the parent is arrested for failure to report and OCS is called for the children. I agree with robster and his statements about the Troopers. ..... They're Hiring.
It sounds like the complaint is about over enhusiastic law enforcement, not racial profiling
I agree 100% with this statement. I believe that in the villages, law enforcement is lax (as it should be) and when a village gets a "gungho" officer in, and that officer decides that he is going to "bring law and order" to this group of people, it looks EXACTLY LIKE racial profiling!! I have spent the last 21 summers in Fort Yukon and Galena, and I have seen this time and time again. And, to the troopers comment about not being able to leave....I beg to differ, they left Fort Yukon!! I saw them change police officers there so often that you would never even know their name and they would be gone. I saw where in Galena, the previous town police officer profiled natives. He was out of control!! If you were white, you never had to worry about getting stopped for drinking, but if you were native....look out!! It looks like racial profiling, and to some degree may be, but it is more than likely overzealous law enforcement.
James, you have obviously never set foot in a village. If you had, you would see things considerably different. First and foremost, we STOLE their land!! WE, white people, brought liquor to Alaskan Natives!! The list of issues I have with you are long!! I am a "white guy" and believe in equal treatment and fairness to everyone, but you, my friend, have no idea about the things you speak of.
It seems to me that if the tribal leaders in Aniak are going to spin this into a racial situation then the Alaska Troopers don't stand a chance. The majority of the population is native . It only makes common sense that most of the questioning etc would be aimed at the central part of the population. Is this profiling? If a dog robs a bank do me make sure we interview as many cats and waste tax payer funds to prove we aren't "profiling"? I agree we do need more native officers on the job. If 20 vacancies are open as robster claims then when is it time for the correct proportion of qualified natives going to step up to the plate. Isn't it time to be realistic?
Yukon John, I am white also however if you look at history you will see that all lands on earth were "STOLEN" at one time or another. When does it end being the white mans fault for bringing in liquor and let people be responsible for their own actions? I have never taken any liquor into the bush but if I had I certainly wouldn't force anyone into drinking any. Its time to man up and be responsible!
rivetgun55, I agree with much of what you said. If we (white guys) had not brought alcohol into the village, it would have found a way there. Yes, everyone's land has been stolen from one time to another. In the case of Galena though, when the town cop has a celebration for his 100th DUI given, and the ratio is 90something percent native to 2 or 3 percent whites....there is a problem!! (Galena is 63% native and 30% white) One, that officer was out of line anyway, but secondly, he was racist and overzealous!! A village CAN throw out the troopers. If they are THE problem, pitch them out...but then dont call them when there is a problem...just figure out how you are going to deal with crime once they are gone.
In my opinion, the Native people have been here long before the Europeans. People are entitled to live the way they choose, but, there has to be rules and regulations. Thats the way of the world. If we didn't have these R&R's, we would be w/o structure in our society. Getting rambunctious and going out of the way to be more of a nuisance than helping, its time to move on. I appreciate the law, but, there are limits. Aniak people have a right to express their wants and desires, that is their land. So, if the AST have to move, let them, move them to another community and I can guarantee, they will be asked to move again. They are lawless themselves. We know that the AST's are only human, thats a given.
hmmm, this is news? yawn....
im a native 30years of age. im having this very problem happening to me, where i live and there not only doing it to people in my village, but to others around here. there is a town near here and other villages near by, so i now frist hand on what troopers get away with, they are trying to make there owen laws as they go along. dont you know if your in court with a trooper you are always in the wrong no matter what the case is. they get away with so much the state should pay some one to look in what the trooper are doing. and we can save all that money that there spending for nothing.
I think it is funny you say they make their own laws and are always right in court. First, your legislators make the laws that are enforced by the Troopers and second, they are only right in court if they have enforced the law that was made by your legislators. If you want something changed, change your legislator. If you don't like the Troopers or other law enforcement for that matter don't ask for their assistance. They seem busy enough in other areas to not be able to respond unless something very bad is happeneing. My 2 cents. State Troopers in Alaska are underpaid and understaffed. They aren't competitive with other law enforcement agencies in this or other states. When you pay for middle/bottom of the barrel, that is the service you get, and those people don't stick around.
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