Assembly approves True North contract for APD navigation/deflection services; member recuses over family tie

The Anchorage Assembly on June 23 approved a contract to True North Recovery to provide deflection and navigation services that will give Anchorage Police Department officers a warm handoff option when encountering people eligible for diversion to behavioral-health and social services.

Assembly discussion clarified that True North’s navigation teams will connect individuals to appropriate services, manage follow-up and report unsuccessful program completion back to APD for standard criminal processing where required. APD staff described the intended operation as a warm handoff and emphasized that the contract is designed to divert eligible cases out of arrest when safe and appropriate.

A member disclosed a familial relationship to an employee of True North and was ruled to have a potential conflict of interest; the member left the dais and did not participate in the vote. The contract passed with the remaining members voting in favor.

Supporters said the service extends existing peer-support work and will expand opportunities to prevent arrests for eligible low-level conduct. Questions from members focused on how the navigation service differs from current peer-support efforts, where services will be located and how success will be tracked.

The contract was recorded as passing; staff said implementation and metrics will be included in the contract documents and monitored post-award.