← All guides

How to request police body-camera footage in Alaska

Updated 2026-05-19. Plain-language guide; not legal advice.

Which Alaska agencies have body cameras

Body-worn cameras are deployed by:

• Anchorage Police Department (APD) — full deployment as of 2022
• Alaska State Troopers (AST) — partial deployment with rolling expansion
• Fairbanks Police Department
• Juneau Police Department
• Various smaller departments (Wasilla, Palmer, Sitka, Kodiak, etc.)

Coverage varies by department and incident type. Most departments do not record every interaction; activations are usually tied to enforcement contacts and use-of-force incidents.

Write the request with maximum specificity

Body-cam requests are expensive to fulfill — every minute of footage has to be reviewed and redacted (faces of bystanders, license plates, juvenile witnesses, sensitive information). Vague requests get giant fee quotes; specific requests get specific footage.

Include all of:

• Date and time of the incident (window of an hour or less if possible)
• Location (intersection, address, or call number)
• Case or call-for-service number if you have it
• Officer name(s) if known
• The associated incident report or call log

If you're investigating a pattern (e.g., all use-of-force incidents in a precinct over a quarter), be prepared for a substantial fee quote and consider asking for the underlying incident reports first to narrow the video request.

Common exemptions you'll see

Departments invoke several exemptions when redacting body-cam footage:

• Active investigation — AS 40.25.120(a)(6). Often overused; ask whether the investigation is actually ongoing or just open on the books.
• Personal privacy of third parties — bystanders, witnesses, and victims may be blurred or muted.
• Juvenile records — when a minor is involved, the agency will redact or refuse, citing AS 47.10.
• Officer safety / tactical information — sometimes invoked broadly, sometimes narrowly.

Most of these are legitimate. But ask for segregation under AS 40.25.112: the public-facing portions of the footage should still be released.

Sample request

Pursuant to the Alaska Public Records Act, AS 40.25.110–.220, I
request to inspect or obtain copies of the following public records:

1. All body-worn camera footage recorded by APD officers responding
   to call-for-service number [#] on [date] between [start time]
   and [end time] at [location].

2. The associated incident report and dispatch log for that
   call-for-service.

3. Any use-of-force review or supervisor narrative associated with
   the same incident.

Please produce electronic copies (MP4 or native format). I am
willing to pay reasonable duplication fees up to $50; please contact
me before exceeding that amount. I request a fee waiver under
AS 40.25.110(d) because this request is primarily in the public
interest and not for commercial use.

If any portion of these records is exempt, please segregate and
produce the non-exempt portions as required by AS 40.25.112.

Frequently asked questions

Does APD have to release body-camera footage?

Body-cam footage is a public record under the PRA. APD must respond and either produce, redact and partially produce, or deny with a specific exemption.

How much does a body-cam footage request cost in Alaska?

Highly variable. Short, narrow requests are often free under the five-hour personnel rule (AS 40.25.110(c)). Broader requests have run into the thousands.