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MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2002

The Anchorage Daily News in a two-part series examines the problems the local police faced when responding to a domestic-related dispute at an Alaska Native home.

On August 3, Glenn Godfrey and his wife, Patti, were attacked and shot by an assailant. Karen Brand killed Glenn and wounded Patti before turning the gun on herself.

Through records and interviews, the paper said the police failed to locate the Godfrey home. The error was attributed to a computer database containing local addresses, which cause the dispatcher to give incorrect directions.

It eventually took 40 minutes for the police to arrive at the home. Glenn Godfrey, a former police officer, was dead by that time.

Police chief Walt Monegan, who is also Native, said overworked dispatchers and a lack of training contributed to the delay. The dispatch unit is understaffed a Billy Miller, who handled the Godfrey call, had worked 53 hours in overtime in the month prior to the incident.

Godfrey was the first Alaska Native to head the state troopers. He also was the state's first public safety commissioner. He left the post to work for an Alaska Native corporation.

Get the Story:
Failing Patti (The Anchorage Daily News 10/13)
Police dispatchers pile up overtime at understaffed center (The Anchorage Daily News 10/14)

Related Stories:
Changes made in Alaska police department (09/23)
Police waited 40 minutes to ask for directions (8/23)
Questions remain on fatal shooting (8/22)
Alaska police couldn't find Godfrey house (8/16)
Alaska police say shooter left note (8/12)
Wife of slain ex-cop unable to talk (8/9)
Wife of slain ex-cop still recovering (8/6)
Native corp exec, ex-cop killed at home (8/5)