Original subtitles

(Ind whooshing)

(suspenseful music)

- here in alaska you're serving your community

even though you're sometimes hated.

- [suspect] get the (beep) out of my stuff!

You piece of (beep)!

(thunk) - stop!

- It's really dangerous to go to

some of the calls we're going to.

- A guy came in to report that

he was attacked with a machete.

(knocking)

- [officer] fairbanks police department.

- A lot can go wrong in a short period of time.

- [officer] whoa, whoa, whoa!

Don't be reaching in the truck!

- No matter what, you're an outsider.

- [underage girl] nobody likes you, you know that?

Nobody likes you!

(suspenseful music)

(bear growls)

- [dispatch] unit 25, 420.

(sirens wail)

- [officer] hands behind your back.

(gunshots pop)

- policing in alaska is different.

It's not like the lower 48 where people will

believe you're there to protect them.

It's not like that up here.

Stop, stop, stop.

Stop, stop, stop!

- You're underage, you're highly intoxicated.

And you're not making good choices today.

- Look man, you are just--

- stop, you're gonna fall!

Come here.

God dang it!

It's good I had a hold of you, huh?

Come on.

You are unpredictable right now.

(bang) (suspenseful music)

my name is norman hughes ii.

I work for the kotzebue police department.

(digital beeping)

(whooshing)

kotzebue is very isolated.

(banging)

once you leave the actual inner city.

There's nothing.

It's really off the grid.

(dogs barking)

the culture here is inupiat.

Very proud people.

It's nice to see traditions here

are still strong and alive today.

But it's really difficult policing a closed community.

(crackling)

- [dispatcher] are you free to dispatch?

- Go ahead.

- 10-4, it's her I dealt with the other day

and I don't remember the last name either.

(crackling) (engine whirring)

here in kotzebue almost everything

I deal with is alcohol-related.

Without that it would probably be just a

sleepy little town.

There she is.

So, she'll get tired before my car runs out of gas.

(window whirring down)

are you getting tired yet?

- [norman] are you getting tired yet?

- No!

- [norman] weren't you just in the hospital?

Because of drinking?

- Yes!

- So, maybe you shouldn't be drinking or?

- I know that you're drinking.

Stop, stop, stop.

Stop, stop, stop!

- Where did you get the alcohol from?

You're just-- - because it's a crime.

- It's a crime!

- So yeah, let's play the game here, okay?

Let's play the game.

(rhonda sobs) come over here.

God dang it!

It's good I had a hold of you, huh?

Come on!

You are unpredictable right now!

And you're not making good choices.

So, I have to handcuff you so that you don't start swinging

and start tryna hit me or something.

So, are you ready to get up?

Come on.

Okay, come on. (rhonda sobs incoherently)

(door slamming)

we don't do drunk holds at the jail or anything like that.

So, our only choice is to take them to the hospital.

So, I feel bad that I have to do that

because it actually is a burden on the hospital too.

(rhonda sobs loudly) because of how drunk

you got, I have to deal with you now.

- [rhonda] you're a pig!

Nobody likes you!

- Sticks and stones sticks and stones.

(sighs)

okay so, I brought a wheelchair--

I need my shoes! - Me and you.

I'll take care of it.

- You're giving me a bad impression of you.

(relaxing music)

even though I've been here just over 19 years

I still feel underappreciated.

You're doing a job, you know?

And there's times when I'm risking my life

for somebody that they may not even like me at all.

What if people hated nurses?

Or what if people hated the mailman?

Just because he's a mailman?

And that's kinda what we do.

They hate you because of your job.

Because of what you do for a living.

And it's not an easy job to do.

You have to make decisions that affect other people's lives.

(suspenseful music)

(digital beeping)

(upbeat rock music)

(dogs barking faintly)

- item number 11.

$400, $475, 75, 75, $400 and 475.

630, 630 on this, tanned lynx, on the tanned lynx..

I'm gonna (murmurs).

- This guy is going the wrong way.

(siren wails)

hello!

Yeah, what happened?

- Are you guys from here?

- Oh, okay.

I'll keep my lights on here, I'll block this other traffic.

If you wanna flip a u-ie.

This is still a new section, so you take care of yourself.

Good luck!

Yeah, yeah!

Most of the time I'm a do you know

why I pulled you over kind of guy.

If I can have a good conversation with you

where we both laugh, we both smile.

I mean, what's the point in ruining your day with a ticket?

Right?

Office butler is what a lot of people call me.

I have one homeless guy who called me princess.

He was holding a knife.

I have no idea why.

(trumpet music)

I really don't know, I don't know.

(crackling)

10-4.

We are headed to a shoplifting.

All the stores in fairbanks have very high shoplift rates.

Anything of high value, they'll steal it

and then go pawn it or sell it

to somebody else for money so they can go buy drugs.

Oh, it actually is right there.

Hello!

So, what's going on today?

- Okay.

- Okay, all right.

- Well, do you wanna throw that in your pocket real quick?

- For?

- Yeah, throw that in your pocket.

- For what?

- Or put the matches down.

Whatever you gotta do. - For what?

- Well, 'cause right now I'm gonna detain you, okay?

So, I'm gonna put you in handcuffs.

Till I figure out what's going on.

I'm gonna detain you, okay?

- Okay.

She thinks she's an fbi agent.

- Thank you for advising me of that.

She can slip handcuffs and she'll run from police.

Have a seat real quick.

All right, so what's going on?

- [man in plaid shirt] she rang up maybe four or five items.

And then started bagging everything else.

- Okay.

And never paid?

- [man in plaid shirt] so, she only paid for the first bag.

And then she started bagging everything else over it.

- Got it.

So, what's going on today?

Why would they say that you

stole merchandise from the store?

- So, it turns out that the transaction

was suspended due to a declined card.

- Okay. - She didn't pay

for any of it. - Okay.

- So, that is the final value.

- So, what do you wanna do?

Do you want?

- Okay, let's do that.

So, here's the deal. - I don't know already, so--

- listen, listen! - My card was--

- if you don't wanna go to jail tonight

just be quite and listen for a second.

You're gonna be trespassed permanently for their property.

So, if you come here you will be arrested.

Do you understand? - I do.

- Okay, step out of the car.

I'm gonna get you out of the handcuffs.

And then you're going to leave.

All right.

- Oh, that hat, too?

All right, you need to take the hat off.

- Got good (mumbles). - Take the hat.

- Hey, off the property.

Grab all your stuff, get off the property.

Because we have so many shoplifts

in the city of fairbanks

we'll write up a quick report and then

we'll send that to the district attorney's office

and they'll make a decision on what

they're gonna do with the case.

I am not concerned of her sending

me up for administrative review.

I think that I'm pretty safe as far as (chuckles) that goes.

But who knows?

She could fool us all!

She could be inspector gadget for all we know.

(crackling) (wind whooshing)

(suspenseful music)

(digital chirping)

(crackling)

- so, today is Saturday.

This is for me day five of 14.

Here in kotzebue you work two weeks on, two weeks off.

By the time you get to day 13, 14, it's been enough.

It's really been enough.

I'm officer odom, I've been with kpd for a year and a half.

Came here from new mexico to check out

what alaska has to offer that no other state has to offer.

(suspenseful music) (crackling)

- is it gonna be a misdemeanor or a felony warrant?

- Awesome, 10-4.

Without another officer I usually try to approach this

by not just throwing myself right inside.

That's a tense situation and a lot

can go wrong in a very short period of time.

(suspenseful music)

(door clicks open)

(door slams shut)

- [officer odom] who's in charge?

Who is in charge?

(suspenseful music)

- I wanted to talk with (beep).

Who's in charge?

Who's in charge?

Who is in charge?

Who's in charge?

- Okay, I'm looking for (beep).

Know who that is?

This is (beep)?

I'm sorry to inform you, we have a warrant for your arrest.

So, we have to go to jail, okay?

(door creaks open) (bystanders chattering)

back up, back up. - Please!

- Back up just a little bit. - This is her jacket!

I'm sorry!

- Okay, that's fine. - Stop it, stop it, stop it!

- So, can you tell me what exactly she's been charged for?

Or if she has a bail or? - It's a warrant.

- I can help!

- You can call the jail and ask.

- So, I can call the jail and get information?

- Yes. - Or are they not gonna share?

- I'll let them know you're calling and they can

share it with you. - Okay, I'll call.

- Okay?

- Time to go.

- I'm gonna take care of the girls

and I'm gonna get information on this, okay?

- Okay, all right. - Okay (sobs).

(crowd shouting and murmuring)

(suspect sobbing)

- when we get the report we have to act on a warrant, so.

It's just how it is I guess.

- [suspect] I'm scared and I've never done this before.

- Dispatch, come in. - [dispatch] go ahead.

- There will be a female individual who is going to call.

Because she currently has care of her children.

So, if you would please advise what you can.

(piano music)

watch your step, it's slick. (woman sobs)

so, you have a warrant for failure to appear

on initial charges, theft in the first degree.

- You're gonna be fine.

- I hope so. - It's a very simple warrant.

You'll clear that up real quick, okay?

- [suspect] I hope so (sobs).

(crackling) (wind whooshing)

(faint acoustic music)

(digital chirping)

(upbeat rock music)

- got a sack of cash.

Don't touch it with your fingerprints.

- You don't want any part of this!

My name's nathan werner, I work for the city of fairbanks

as a police officer, I'm a patrol sergeant.

The biggest difference about alaska as opposed to the 48

is probably the independent nature of the people here.

I got a sack of money.

About $60,000 from the marijuana stores.

Marijuana's legal in the state of alaska.

But because it's still illegal federally

people pay the city their tax money.

And then the city's gotta take

this sack of cash and deposit it at the bank.

(upbeat rock music)

(plastic crackling)

(chuckles) that bag's not even gonna fit in there!

I don't think the guy at the counter

even knew what to do with it!

(chuckles) he was shocked!

Apparently the marijuana business

is doing well in fairbanks!

(ominous music)

(upbeat music)

I see a table of about seven people.

One of 'em has a bottle of whiskey.

And gives it to the female and she chugs

from the bottle of whiskey and gives it back.

So, I'm gonna arrest her for drinking in public.

(door slams shut)

(relaxed music)

the park right here is the heart of fairbanks.

When any tourist or any visitor shows up

in fairbanks, this is where they end up.

The street population here in fairbanks,

it's a little bit more of a rough crowd.

They seem to just not care about following any rules.

They'll sit on all these benches

and vomit all over the place and urinate right there.

So, that's what tourists get welcomed to.

- Hey, ma'am?

- You're gonna go to jail for drinking in public.

- Yes you did.

It's unopened.

- Then I can take that as well.

- Okay.

- And you're gonna go to jail.

- Do you want me to take your backpack

or do you wanna give it to one of your friends?

- I watched you.

- I did not drink.

- You tell me,

listen, listen, I watched you drink a bottle of r&r.

It's actually in his coat.

This is what you had a shot from.

Would you please take off your backpack.

Put your hands behind your back.

- [suspect] oh my god.

- [nathan] do you have a wallet on you, id?

No id?

- [suspect] get the (beep) out of my stuff!

I said get out of my stuff, I don't have id!

So what the (beep) are you digging for?

- I gotta make sure that--

- nosy as (beep), you're a piece of (beep)!

Get the (beep) out of my (beep)!

You piece of (beep)!

(wind whooshing)

(electronic beeping)

- it's not gonna go good if you fight.

Knock it off.

It's important for cops to be proactive

because the more that we can prevent the crime

from happening, you're gonna have a safer community.

You're down here, you're drinking.

(woman mumbles)

that's what we don't want, right?

Just like I came here to live a dream,

there's a lotta people that come here to vacation,

to live a dream and see something

they've always wanted to see.

I think it's critically important to keep alaska

what it's supposed to be and by helping enforcing

the downtown area allows that dream to be a realization

for a lotta people.

Anything illegal or anything in here

that you can't take into the jail?

(beep) douchebag.

- You'll be out in a little bit, okay.

So you're just gonna go in,

you'll get a court date and you'll be released, okay?

- You piece of (beep).

- [nathan] have a seat.

- Have a seat.

Don't drink in the park.

- [dispatch] go ahead update.

- 10-80 for drinking in public.

- 10-4.

You know, you have a warrant as well.

- [nathan] well, you'll be booked on the warrant.

You have two conditions.

So you'll be booked on two violating of conditions

and for the drinking in public.

- [nathan] you have a warrant for your arrest, even if.

- [suspect] so what?

I was gonna turn myself in!

- [nathan] when?

When were you plannin' on doin' that?

- Okay.

So I don't know how long they're gonna keep you there.

You don't know your belly button

from your butt hole, (beep).

- It'll be up to a judge tomorrow, okay?

You should take the person

that had the bottles to jail, not me.

- I didn't see him drink from it.

- [suspect] oh you didn't see the three people

that drank from it before I did?

- I didn't.

I'm sure they all did

but I have to see it.

- [suspect] you just crossed

the wrong (beep) bitch, ass (beep).

- What are you on conditions for?

What's your prior case?

- Okay, so just theft?

Judgment day is comin' and you're all goin' to hell.

- I love it here.

I've lived here my whole life.

I know pretty much everybody here.

Everybody pretty much knows me.

A good day for a police officer is very boring.

Nobody getting hurt.

No crimes being committed.

No traffic laws being broken.

But we don't get many of those days.

(ice crackles)

a guy came in to report that he was attacked

by a male with a machete.

(door dinging)

he was with the guy's wife,

not sure if anything was goin' on.

The husband found out.

Exited the apartment holding a machete.

(ice crackles)

- [officer] you thought he was gonna use the machete on her.

- [officer] he came back around.

He got you in the side with the machete.

- [officer] and then she got out and helped

get the machete from him.

(dramatic music)

- [graying officer] fairbanks police department.

- [gerrit] any cop that tells you they don't get scared

I think is lyin'.

(wind whoosh)

(ice crackling)

- [officer] what happened this morning?

- [officer] not completely true.

- [gerrit] hey you wanna come out here and chat with me?

Hey, so what's goin' on?

- [gerrit] so what happened with the

incident this morning?

- Okay.

- Okay.

- Okay.

- According to the victim, the woman's husband attacked him

with a machete but she's sayin'

that nothing happened between the two men.

So when did the machete come in.

- When did the machete, the big knife,

come into play?

- [man] I throw away the machete.

- He's got cuts and bruises from where he was hit.

- Your friend.

- [officer] you're not tellin' me the truth.

- [officer] okay, so he.

- Okay, well he just said that they fought.

- [gerrit] okay, do you wanna see the pile of blood

that's out here?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, the machete.

- According to the law, we have to arrest him, okay?

(suspenseful music)

his wife is not very happy about the situation.

She's not very happy at the victim in this case.

For calling so I guess we'll see

where it goes from here.

(ice crackles)

- we're on our way to meet with the individual

who is currently intoxicated,

screamin' at household members

and creating a scene inside the residence.

This is a common, common call we get

from this family and the family doesn't want him inside

the house with alcohol.

So you called and told me that your son's upset

because you poured out his bottle, is that right?

- [robert] well, why'd he do that for?

- [robert] he was tryin' to get his bottle back from you?

- Yeah.

- [robert] hey, calm down.

- [robert] hey, calm down.

- [robert] I think your family wants you

to leave for the day.

Maybe take a walk.

Is this your dad's house?

- [robert] wouldn't you think it would be polite

to respect your father plus and elder.

Not bring alcohol inside the house.

- Sometimes just verbally deescalating the situation.

Just talking to the person as a human being

and tell 'em, look, I'm here to help you.

It's always worked for me.

Time to go, okay?

- [son] all right, let's go.

- Hey, come back

when you can be nicer to your family.

Some of the people here,

no matter what you can say or what you can do,

you're an outsider.

But other people they appreciate the help.

I think it would be a good idea

to evict him outta here.

You know?

- [robert] it's hurtful to tell your son to go

but it's time for him to go.

- Yep.

- [robert] I truly have concern for you, okay.

I do and that's why I'm here.

(son shouting)

(dramatic music)

- rush hour in kotzebue.

(phone buzzing)

yeah?

- 10-4.

I know the person drivin' the truck.

I've dealt with him lots of times.

I know he doesn't have a driver's license.

I like that they're clearin' the snow

but they're blockin' my road.

- [dispatch] k-3 dispatch,

- 10-4.

The driver's on conditions of release

which he's to obey all laws and of course if he's drivin'

he's not obeyin' the law 'cause he's not licensed.

That's him.

At least I know where he's at now.

And he knows that I know and he saw me too.

(suspenseful music)

(horn honks)

dispatch, w-36 on sixth street.

Right by turf.

- [dispatch] 10-4, six by turf.

- Okay, so guys, I'm gettin' a lotta complaints

about you drivin' really fast, almost hittin' people okay.

So I know you don't have a license so what I'm gonna do now

is I'm gonna make you leave this and walk home from here.

You and I had this talk.

I told you to quit drivin' the truck.

- Well then, why. - And then you're still

drivin' the truck. - Why didn't you.

- Do you want me to arrest you, dude?

You know you're on conditions of release.

- You know what.

- [norman] whoa, whoa, whoa.

Don't be reachin' in the truck.

(dramatic music)

- come on out.

- How do I know what you're reachin' for.

There's guns floating around town here

that have been stolen.

- Look, my hands are already behind my back to surrender.

- Okay, I don't know what you're grabbin' dude.

I'm not tryin' to be mean to you

but I don't wanna die.

I told you to quit drivin' this truck.

- Okay, you want me to handcuff you?

I'll take you to jail.

Go ahead, buddy.

- That's all you wanted.

- No, I don't.

I want you to quit drivin' the way you're drivin'.

Oh, no, no, no.

Is there anyone you can call to come get this truck?

- Yes sir.

- Okay, so who are you gonna call?

- May (beep).

- Does may (beep) have a driver's license.

- Yes sir.

- Are you sure because I'm thinking

that you might be wrong.

- [suspect] if she's wrong then I have nobody.

I've been goin' to the dmv tryin' pass my test.

- Okay so, you gotta keep doin' it.

- [suspect] but then I have family to take care of

which you don't know of.

I have a lot of things that you don't know of

that it hurts me because then all I want is my daughter

and you know that I can't see her.

- Turn around.

I want you to not drive anymore

without a driver's license.

And I want you to go get one, okay?

I want you to come show me that driver's license, okay?

- No, I wanna show you a permit first

because that's how it starts off with the permit.

- Okay, well guess what you cannot do with a permit.

- [suspect] you can't drive without a person

that's in the passenger driving.

- How old does that person need to be?

- More than 18. - No.

- No, actually more than 16.

- 21.

- All right.

- I'm gonna check.

Can I charge him, yes, I could.

Can I write him a ticket, yes I could.

Sometimes puttin' someone in jail's not the best choice.

There's a lotta laws but when it comes down to it,

it's up to you, you know, use your discretion.

What do you think's best in this situation?

(dramatic music)

- we're headed to deal with a gentleman

that is well known around town.

I've had contact with him where he's armed

with knives so he's definitely somebody you have

to be careful of but because we deal with him all the time,

we kinda know what to expect.

Right now he is threatening people at a dog park

by climbin' on the gates and fence

and threatening people

as they're trying to leave and fight with them.

(door dinging)

there he is.

It is a 23 at the dog park.

Sometimes our only option is to arrest you.

- Okay.

- 10-4.

He definitely has problems.

Brought on by excessive use of methamphetamines.

In the city of fairbanks, drugs are a huge problem.

There are high amounts of cocaine and methamphetamines.

We have drugs, more dangerous than heroin.

I think it's a huge contributor

to a lot of the violent crimes that we have.

- Yeah, I read the bible.

- Yes.

- Even when he's not using a lot of drugs,

his brain's so scrambled he can't really communicate

in a normal way anyway.

I have the feeling we're gonna see ya again today so.

- You want a ride somewhere?

- Listen, this is just a warning.

We're done.

One of the things that's frustrating

is we have two officers working right now

and I have to babysit somebody who's causing problems

and because we deal with him all the time,

chances are pretty high we're gonna see him again.

(suspenseful music)

hey!

- [nathan] do you have needles or weapons on you?

- You have weed?

- Okay.

- Did you take these?

These are for little kids.

- What are you gonna do with 'em?

- All right, have a seat.

- [nathan] sit down.

- [officer] take a seat, brother.

- [nathan] no, no, on the seat.

- [nathan] put your feet in, put your feet in.

- [suspect] it's not a game, wiener.

- [nathan] put your foot in.

- [nathan] all right, he's good.

(dramatic music)

(banging)

- just disorderly conduct.

- Are you gettin' blood on my window?

Stop it.

Stop.

- If you listed all the repeat offenders

within a certain time period of committing a crime again,

it's probably a small percentage

but that small percentage affects everybody

and unfortunately I'm the one

and the police department's the one

that deals with these people over and over

and over again.

And we can't be as proactive as we want to

when we're so short staffed.

- [suspect] do you hear that?

(dull thudding)

- [nathan] another day at the fairbanks police department

where the job is never over.

(upbeat rock music)

- 10-4.

Holy cow.

Yeah, I'd say that he definitely hit something huh?

(gerrit mumbles)

(bell dinging)

- yes, 100%.

Lemme go chat with her and make sure she's okay.

Hello.

How are you?

- Oh yeah.

So you didn't think you hit anything?

- [cab driver] no.

There's a pretty good amount of damage

and yellow paint on it from where it got hit.

Did you try to leave?

'cause if you woulda left, that would've been a crime.

- Okay, well you can't leave once you're in an accident.

You need to stay and exchange information

with the other driver.

Have you been drinkin' or anything like that or?

- Okay, do you have any medical issues?

Anything that would impair you in any way?

- Okay, is this not your normal vehicle

that you're drivin'?

- It's not?

Did you not scoot the seat up or anything like that?

You just couldn't see?

- Okay.

- Okay, I recommend you probably don't drive

this vehicle at least anymore today.

She's not impaired.

She's just an elderly lady who probably.

Needs to have a retest here soon.

(upbeat music)

I've been a police officer for three years

and every day is different.

Never know what's gonna happen

and I'll probably be doin' this as long as I can.

(suspenseful music)

(dog barks)

- so I'm going to the club.

My job here is to be visible

and make sure nobody does anything bad

like fight or drunk drive.

- [man] hey, what the (beep) are you doin' there?

- [norman] sounds like that guy wants to fight.

- [woman] hi norman, welcome back home, norman.

- So is it pretty stacked up in there?

- [woman] oh yeah.

- Norman, I love you.

Hey, you're a champ in my book.

- Hey, hey, you're a champ in everybody's book, norm.

- Thank you. (woman whoops)

- go norm.

- So you didn't get in no fights either, huh?

- No, hell no.

- Okay, cool.

- [woman] I'm a lover, not a fighter.

- Guess I better roll up my window.

Gettin' too much action.

Yes, so some of the people that are comin' up,

bein' all nice and friendly,

I've actually arrested thousands of times

but I was fair and nice and they actually aren't bad people.

I'm 'bout to take off.

Think I had enough fame for one evening.

Here in alaska, most police officers aren't appreciated

and some are even hated.

You gotta be okay with that.

- There's a need for law enforcement here.

Helping people when they really need it.

- These cops are pretty cool.

They know what I can be like here.

It can be really hard, okay.

And they know.

- [gerrit] I've taken you to jail more than once.

- He took me to jail.

- [herrit] nothing personal.

All right, I'm outta here.

You guys have a good one, all right.

(peaceful music)

- [norman] you're here to protect the people

and uphold the laws of the state of alaska

and you're still gonna do what you swore to do.