Leading into the new year, KSRM will be recapping our top ten stories of 2014: exploring the issues that had the deepest impact on our community.
Nikiski residents noticed a pattern of crime worsening throughout this year and decided to band together to address it.
At the first meeting, Jim and Nedra Evenson were part of the crowd containing well over one hundred people affected by thefts, vandalism, and property destruction.
Nedra: “Right out of our yard and out of our barn. Our son’s cabin, that’s not very far from our home, has been totally vandalized and destroyed and everything stolen out of it, so we would like to see better coverage in Nikiski.”
Jim: “Plus we know that we’re not the only ones.”
That community meeting with legislators, Alaska State Troopers, along with other municipal authorities was in late September and packed the Nikiski Recreation Center gymnasium.
Alaska State Trooper’s Captain Andy Greenstreet outlined a plan for a criminal suppression detail in the area consisting of two senior officers and one part time office admin who would be dedicated to look at the data and find patterns. That detail would run for as long as local Trooper resources would allow but would also work with Bureau of Highway Patrol officers and Kenai and Soldotna Police Departments.
Capt. Greenstreet said he felt like him and his fellow officers were received well by the crowd but can understand their frustration.
Greenstreet: “The most important thing that we accomplished here tonight was getting a group of people together for a common reason for a common goal, and that’s to be a voice, to find a direction and then take that direction and kind of take charge of their community because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.”
Ann Krogseng has been at the front of the movement to band together, organizing the first heavily attended meeting as well as keeping the community’s communication with the Alaska State Troopers open and flowing.
Krogseng: “Well there’s been a lot of conversation since the meeting, both individually and on a larger scale, the troopers have made numerous arrests that have been reported to me in regards to getting people off the streets.”
Since then, a committee has been formed to explore possible neighborhood watches and training and the Nikiski Community Action Group was also told to “put a face on crime,” to help cut down on property thefts and light sentencing.
Borough Assembly Member Wayne Ogle of Nikiski said they’ve been attending the court hearings for men and women arrested in connection with Nikiski property thefts…
Asm. Ogle(Nikiski): “Ah the Troopers recommend it. They basically believe if there is a community presence, if you put a face on it, that makes it very mindful to the judge as well as the prosecutor and the defense that there were actual victims of what the perpetrator was accused of doing.”
Alaska State Troopers have said the amount of Nikiski crime isn’t necessarily higher than other communities but the residents’ response has been commendable and even achieved attention from Sean Parnell when he was still Alaska’s Governor.
Gov. Parnell: “This is really a community-driven forum and a community-driven issue. I’m really thankful that we’ve got Nikiski residents in particular standing up and seeking help and willing to take a step forward.”