27 September 2013

Pre-Saturday

How's that for a positive approach to the last day of a long week? :)

There's not much in the local news except recycled stories, with some lingering for the third or fourth day. That's not uncommon here, and I suppose it's a good thing when not much is going on. Could be worse, you know.

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One thing caught my eye today. The Alaska State Troopers employ "village public safety officers" in the bush, with so many villages hundreds of miles apart & accessible only by air. These VPSOs are trained but unarmed, and must call for backup from the Troopers whenever they suspect an upcoming encounter might be violent. That backup might be some distance away, and take some time to arrive.

The Alaska Legislature is now considering arming the VPSOs, as rural law officers are facing an increasing amount of violence. 

I think that is probably a good thing. I can't imagine trying to police a rural community with bootleg alcohol and poachers, while armed with nothing other than a nightstick and a cell phone.

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The snow which fell last weekend is gone now, melted by warmer temps and plenty of rain. But the forecast for the next week or ten days mentions snow on several occasions, and that concern about an early winter remains with us. We can only hope that leaves begin to fall in larger quantities before snow breaks branches & knocks out power. But at least if the power goes off, it's not real cold yet.

Y'all have a wonderful Friday, and thanks for stopping by.

8 comments:

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Bet many of the VPSO's have personal firearms, they just can't use them in their role as a VPSO.

Rev. Paul said...

And you'd be correct. Everybody here has at least one firearm, or so it seems. But the VPSO hands are tied by regulation ... for now.

Old NFO said...

And backup is two hours away, on a GOOD day...

Rev. Paul said...

Absolutely. The Alaska Troopers reality show on TV doesn't often mention that.

If you need help in the Bush, better be sure it can wait awhile. Heaven help you if you need help NOW, unless you're willing to use "village justice".

PioneerPreppy said...

Shouldn't all that be something the County Sheriff takes care of? I don't know a thing about Alaska's set up but down here I want the elected Sheriff making decisions out in the rural areas NOT the Highway Patrol.

Isolated Hamlets would be an ideal location for a deputy I would think.

Rev. Paul said...

Preppy, we don't have counties, and there aren't any sheriffs in Alaska. The boroughs are policed only by the State Troopers.

PioneerPreppy said...

See as I said "I know Nothing about Alaska's set up" :)

I would miss my Sheriff though. Having that LEO directly elected by the people is a good thing.

Rev. Paul said...

I agree. The difficulty is that most boroughs are so sparsely peopled that they're literally considered "unpopulated" by the Census Bureau. There's no tax base from which to pay a Sheriff.