Came Across This Insightful Article....

[thataway]

I have only been a visitor to AK, but I do have a lot of respect for the troopers and local LEO. I got to know one who was an ex LAPD, and we had mutual friends. He invited me to join him for a day. That day there was a potential incident as the barge came to town. Some Indians had kidnapped one of the logger's daughters in the recent past--and the loggers and fishermen were feuding. But they all needed items off the barge. The officer stood by the barge and made sure that things went smoothly. Later there was a medical emergency--he he was paramedic trained which allow him to stabilize the victim and call for a medivac. Later in the evening there were plenty of drunks/drug users to deal with. He was the only LEO, and unless he called in a trouper--by air, there was no back up. I doubt if he checked any boat registrations--but he did come down to the harbor and "checked out" this visiting boat--just to be sure there was not a potential problem. The "checking" was just a brief visit--no boarding etc. A tough and lonely job.