Alaska State Trooper

[fulano]

I did a search for this as a topic and found none recently.

I recorded several episodes of this program on National Geographic channel.

Seems that the ones that deal with the daily grind of vehicle stops nearly always invovle a handgun in the vehicle or on the driver/passenger. Very interesting how each is handled especially the banter between the LEO and the owner of the handgun. Often the LEO explains his actions, questions, concerns, etc.

I recommend watching a few episodes.

[RoyGBiv]

It's a good show... especially for the nature...
ASP does enforcement on rivers and in some very remote villages.. Interesting to watch...

Watched the fake-moose-hunting-from-the-road episode this past weekend...
Seems you can shoot from the grasssy areas off the shoulder, but not on the tarmac or gravel.

Them mooses are HUGE.

[WildBill]

Them mooses are HUGE.

A guy I used to work with used to go moose hunting in Alaska almost every year. He kept going hunting to see if he could get a bigger rack, and always gave the meat to the bush pilot. One time he brought the antlers into work in the bed of his truck to show off. You could almost hang a hammock on them.

[The Annoyed Man]

I like that program and watch it regularly. Not to take away from LEOs in other states, but those boys in Alaska are pretty hairy chested men with a lot of courage who seem to perform very well under what most would consider to be very adverse conditions. The ASP seems like they have to deal with a number of social issues not found so much in other states - isolation induced mental instabilities, cabin fever induced instabilities, significant intercultural issues between whites and the native peoples, etc., from a greater percentage of the population and over larger distances with less backup than a lot of state troopers from other states regularly face. That's got to be a really a tough job... ...tougher than what a lot of LEOs in the lower 48 face.

Again, not to take away from anybody... that's just my observation.

[fulano]

I like that program and watch it regularly. Not to take away from LEOs in other states, but those boys in Alaska are pretty hairy chested men with a lot of courage who seem to perform very well under what most would consider to be very adverse conditions. ...tougher than what a lot of LEOs in the lower 48 face.

Again, not to take away from anybody... that's just my observation.

I agree. These guys are rugged.

What I've noticed in the show is the frequency at which the Troopers find handguns in possession of nearly everyone they stop. I think the western states are in some ways in a sort of time warp....what I mean is that when I was a teen/youngster there was always some type of gun in the car/pickup. I got my share of tickets as a kid and was never asked "do you have a gun in the car?". Probably because the LEO's of the day knew there was at least a shotgun and it was part of the culture so they never expected anything of it. Times have changed.

[apostate]

I like that program and watch it regularly. Not to take away from LEOs in other states, but those boys in Alaska are pretty hairy chested men with a lot of courage who seem to perform very well under what most would consider to be very adverse conditions.

If you run into a copy of "Lowbush Moose (And Other Alaskan Recipes)" at a used book store, buy it. It's a cookbook but also contains stories from the author, a retired Alaska State Trooper.

[OldCurlyWolf]

I like that program and watch it regularly. Not to take away from LEOs in other states, but those boys in Alaska are pretty hairy chested men with a lot of courage who seem to perform very well under what most would consider to be very adverse conditions. ...tougher than what a lot of LEOs in the lower 48 face.

Again, not to take away from anybody... that's just my observation.

I agree. These guys are rugged.

What I've noticed in the show is the frequency at which the Troopers find handguns in possession of nearly everyone they stop. I think the western states are in some ways in a sort of time warp....what I mean is that when I was a teen/youngster there was always some type of gun in the car/pickup. I got my share of tickets as a kid and was never asked "do you have a gun in the car?". Probably because the LEO's of the day knew there was at least a shotgun and it was part of the culture so they never expected anything of it. Times have changed.

Of all the times I have been stopped for an infraction or at a "DL/Insurance Check" road block, the last infraction was in 1997 and the last RB was in 2006, I have never been asked if I had a weapon in my vehicle. The only times it has been mentioned is the three times I presented my CHL due to an accident or a RB and those were "where is it?" and went no further.

I have also been through many Border Patrol/INS stops at check stations on the highway in 4 southwestern states and have never been asked that question.

[speedsix]

...if stopped for speeding or other traffic offense, I'd take it as fishing if an LEO asked if there were a weapon in the car...if stopped on a criminal suspicion...that's justifiable...sure, the law requires a CHL holder to announce...but no reason to ask that for a common traffic stop...unless it's a jurisdiction where it's illegal in car...having served in a state where any legal firearm could be loaded anywhere in the car...we only asked if they were otherwise suspicious...we treated every citizen we dealt with as though they might be armed...discreetly and professionally...

[fulano]

I like that program and watch it regularly. Not to take away from LEOs in other states, but those boys in Alaska are pretty hairy chested men with a lot of courage who seem to perform very well under what most would consider to be very adverse conditions. ...tougher than what a lot of LEOs in the lower 48 face.

Of all the times I have been stopped for an infraction or at a "DL/Insurance Check" road block, the last infraction was in 1997 and the last RB was in 2006, I have never been asked if I had a weapon in my vehicle. The only times it has been mentioned is the three times I presented my CHL due to an accident or a RB and those were "where is it?" and went no further.

I have also been through many Border Patrol/INS stops at check stations on the highway in 4 southwestern states and have never been asked that question.

Could be that the states that have very open carry laws have a higher frequency of arms (small arms) in autos and its a standard question of the LEO.

I got started watching this series when my wife and I met a couple at the local park where we walk our dogs. They had a very young huskie and in the course of conversation he mentioned he was new to Texas and had come here from Alaska to be with his girl friend. He was a Trooper for 10 years in Alaska and told me which episodes to look for him in. I see him weekly and will ask his $.02 and post an update.

[hoot]

Them mooses are HUGE.

When I was somewhat younger, I took a camera everywhere.
On this instance, I was in Yellowstone N.P. and I came upon
a herd of buffalo. I started walking toward them with the intent
of taking their picture. When I got within (say) 50 yards, I
began to notice how big they were getting. I decided that my
most prudent action was to carefully and slowly walk backward
toward the car.

National Geographic says, "the moose is the largest North
American mammal. But I still remember slowly carefully walking
backward away from the buffalo.
Hoot

[OldCurlyWolf]

It's a good show... especially for the nature...
ASP does enforcement on rivers and in some very remote villages.. Interesting to watch...

Watched the fake-moose-hunting-from-the-road episode this past weekend...
Seems you can shoot from the grasssy areas off the shoulder, but not on the tarmac or gravel.

Them mooses are HUGE.

What is the plural of Moose?





Moose.

[flb_78]

It's a good show... especially for the nature...
ASP does enforcement on rivers and in some very remote villages.. Interesting to watch...

Watched the fake-moose-hunting-from-the-road episode this past weekend...
Seems you can shoot from the grasssy areas off the shoulder, but not on the tarmac or gravel.

Them mooses are HUGE.

What is the plural of Moose?





Moose.

Meese?

[flb_78]

Just a FYI, but all 6 episodes for the first season are available to watch online on http://www.hulu.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for free.

[fulano]

Them mooses are HUGE.

A guy I used to work with used to go moose hunting in Alaska almost every year. He kept going hunting to see if he could get a bigger rack, and always gave the meat to the bush pilot. One time he brought the antlers into work in the bed of his truck to show off. You could almost hang a hammock on them.

Yes they are big and shy but fearless. I have seen signs posted in many areas where both moose and elk range that warn the hunter not to confuse the too or to face a stiff fine for accidentally killing a moose without a permit to do so.

When I first saw one of these signs I thought it was a joke as I can't imagine anyone confusing the two; even from a great distance.

[Skaven]

They have it running on National Geographic all day today.