Troopers aim to boost patrols, but they will need more funding
Published:
April 11, 2007
Last Modified: April 11, 2007 at 02:01 AM
The Knik River is part of God's country, but the yahoos need to get religion. So the Alaska State Troopers need a few more missionaries.
Butte residents and others have long called for more law enforcement to stop the drunken parties, gunfire, car torchings and other lawlessness that has made Jim Creek synonymous with knucklehead. The problems have made parts of a scenic and splendid swath of Alaska burned-out pits for trash and crime.
The troopers have responded and will increase weekend patrols, but wildlife trooper Lt. Tory Oleck warns that the forces are spread thin. He'll need to peel off some staffing from area trooper posts.
Lawmakers have invested $180,000 a year for law enforcement in the 260,000-acre area, which includes money for four-wheelers to give the law a longer arm on the many tracks and trails. That's all to the good, but what the troopers need are more officers.
Troopers and area residents have raised the alarm before. But with trooper ranks spread thin across the state -- in mid-March the force was 47 officers short of authorized staffing -- it has been and will continue to be difficult to sustain effective patrols.
The long-term answer for both the Knik River area and the rest of the state is a larger force of state troopers.
Law enforcement works best when it's consistent, when enough arrests and convictions are made to provide a real deterrent, when the bad actors know there's a good chance they'll have to pay for their criminal behavior. That takes money and people. That means $180,000 for policing the Knik River Public Use Area is a good start but that a bigger state investment should follow.
The payoff? That's simple. Over time, you drive out the worst troublemakers and make the recreational area a lot more appealing to all Alaskans who can enjoy the area and respect it, both motorized and non. And you provide the domestic tranquility that residents of the area have every right to enjoy.
Increased weekend patrols will help, but if lawmakers are serious about a peaceful Knik River area they need to fortify the troopers with more troopers.
In the meantime, good luck to both frustrated citizens and willing but understaffed troopers.
BOTTOM LINE: Knik River area needs some intensive law enforcement care.