The Village Public Safety Officer Program began in the late 1970’s as a means of providing rural Alaskan communities with needed public safety services at the local level.
So they are basically government agents in each town, to insure the locals don’t misbehave. Indian agents.
In 1793 the Second Trade and Intercourse Act authorized the President of the United States to “appoint such persons, from time to time, as temporary agents to reside among the Indians,” and guide them into forced acculturation of white American society by changing their agricultural practices and domestic activities.
Though this latter part is no longer officially included in what they do.
So, in this case, the village PSO decided to hassle the old man about not having a license in rural Alaska, and the old man told him to go to hell, at rifle point. So he calls in the police.
Haglin had received reports that the elder Kangas was driving around the village, even though he doesn't have a valid driver's license. After Haglin approached Arvin Kangas at his home, the elder Kangas pointed to a rifle and suggested he would use it if Haglin did not leave, according to the charging document.
Haglin then contacted state troopers, who obtained an arrest warrant and accompanied him to Arvin Kangas' home a day after the confrontation.
VPSO Haglin cut the guy a lot of slack - told him to go home and not drive anymore (Arvin Kangas was reportedly drunk), so Kangas gets in a station wagon and starts driving recklessly and then points a firearm at the VPSO
Time to call the Troopers, no?
Indian Agent?!?
Pure, pure horse manure.
So he calls in the police.Ya know, sometimes when you think you are in the back of the beyond, some officious SOB of a government agent of some sort of other will show up to give you trouble over some minor matter. Then it quickly escalates. You just made an anus' day.
The Village Public Safety Officer Program began in the late 1970’s
How much do they get paid, by whom, and who appoints them?