I am looking at accepting a position with the Dillingham Police Department. Going from the high stress life as a police chief, city manager, and working in Afghanistan as an International Police Advisor to a police officer in a small bush town. I am really excited about it, but want to get more info from a hunter's perspective. What other things are there to to do? The wife wants to know what there is there for her, like shopping, fast food, etc. How are the sporting good stores? Any input (good and bad)would be great. If I am lucky I would start around March 1st. I'll also be looking for a good reloading partner. Lou

Shopping? Can she spell internet?

It would be best to go spend some time there with your wife before you accept the job. Try it before you buy it.

I spent a few hours walking around town this summer and hit most of the high spots. The municipal library is nice and offers DVDs in addition to books, it has a half dozen PCs with free internet service. The Ace hardware store has just about everything you'd need in the way of basic home, hardware and sport items but the emphasis is on basic. The town has more outboard motor sales and repair shops than the entire city of Houston. The N&N grocery store has the basic grocery items covered but I found everything to be shockingly expensive; I don't know how folks there can afford groceries. The only restaurant I ate at was the Muddy Rudder and it was nice enough. There aren't a lot of options.

The best thing about Dillingham is that you're just a hop, skip and a jump from wild Alaska. Everyone I met was as nice as could be but I think you'd be making a lot of DUI and PI arrests.

Thanks for the help. I have hit every website related to Dillingham but they are usually promoting something and not as objective. The chief has been very forthright and told me everything you have said. He will be flying me and my wife there for three days sometime in December or early January. Thanks, Lou

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
It would be best to go spend some time there with your wife before you accept the job. Try it before you buy it.

I spent a few hours walking around town this summer and hit most of the high spots. The municipal library is nice and offers DVDs in addition to books, it has a half dozen PCs with free internet service. The Ace hardware store has just about everything you'd need in the way of basic home, hardware and sport items but the emphasis is on basic. The town has more outboard motor sales and repair shops than the entire city of Houston. The N&N grocery store has the basic grocery items covered but I found everything to be shockingly expensive; I don't know how folks there can afford groceries. The only restaurant I ate at was the Muddy Rudder and it was nice enough. There aren't a lot of options.

The best thing about Dillingham is that you're just a hop, skip and a jump from wild Alaska. Everyone I met was as nice as could be but I think you'd be making a lot of DUI and PI arrests.

I live here. What Forrest said to the letter.

Scott, are you a handloader and if so I would be looking for some male bonding. If I come I will be bringing all my dies and components, but will leave my press and other goodies at my neighbor's house. Lou

I have know a lot of small towm police cheifs in my 30 years of LE. Expect lots of local politics.

Expect to spend lots of money on flying if you want to go some where else.

I don't know if I would want to spend 30 years as small town chief put it could be a great experiance for a few years.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Scott, are you a handloader and if so I would be looking for some male bonding. If I come I will be bringing all my dies and components, but will leave my press and other goodies at my neighbor's house. Lou

I am a handloader and of course the company would be great!

Tstrurm may have been a little harsh, but generally correct when he indicated that Dillingham isn't for the general public. Isolation usually promotes all the small town problems being amplified. Last night I was out in the ambulance picking up an intoxicated victim that was cracked over the head by another intoxicate with a bottle. Charming, really charming.

Hunting and fishing aside, the finest people I have ever met are living right here in Dillingham. Never mind Mark Young, he's quite the turkey. Sadie is a fine lady though.

P dog shooter is also correct, and the right move is to steadfastly ignore the local politics. If your paycheck is in the bank and you have fuel to get out of town on your days off, that should be all that counts here.

Scott, thanks for the heads up. I have been a cop in small towns (2500-8000) for 20 some years. Politics and drunks are no big deal. Looking forward to it more every day. Lou

Scott, I undeerstand I can't hunt for the first year. I know that applies to game animals, but what about varmints and predators? many states (not CA) allows folks to hunt predators or varmints without a license or resident status. I may be in Dillingham for a day or two around the 10th of Decemeber to check it out. Lou

You can hunt, but in the case of moose, you'd have to buy a non resident tag and hunt in 17B, the non resident sub unit up in the state park/ Mulchatna River area. You can buy a small game license fairly reasonably and chase the day lights out of the ptarmigan, and whatever else.

All of your compadre's on the local and state force are outdoorsmen and will be able to get you out. For that matter, most everyone in this town is pretty helpful with getting new folks around so most any of us would try to get you into some kind of good hunting or fishing.

Call me when you get to town (I'm in the book,)and I'll be happy to give you the non sales pitch tour and treat you to dinner at one of our two poor restaurants.

Dr.Lou Going there in December will be both good and bad , Good that it will only be for 3 days , and that you get the chance to see DARK Winter ....... Moving there in March is Great as it is getting alot lighter every day ... Because alot of Alaska is Extreme in one way or another, [ but we don,t have tornadoes , Thank God !] What in the spring and summer is lush in the winter can appear very desolate ....... A thing we mostly learn about the winters here is , This too will change !! But if you are set up for winter it,s awesome because you can travel overland , if you have a snogo ... I,m looking at the SkiDoo Skandic 550 LT and the Artic Cat Bear Cat 570 ....... Winter affects my wife much more than me ,, Town trips are handy ..( Anchorage )

Gentlemen, thanks for the info. I guess I will sell the Harley and by a snowmobile. I will also haul my 375 along with me on my first flight. I hope it all works out. I am really excited about the transition. My year in Afghanistan is almost over (94 days). It's been a lot of fun and a great exprience, but I am ready for Alaska.

I also have a motorhome (40' diesel pusher). Looks like I'll end up driving it to Anchorage next August and storing it there. It doesn't make much sense hauling it to Dillingham. I am (or possible was) a long distance cyclist. Is there any decent paved roads around Dillingham that I can get a 15-20 mile ride - round trip? Lou

As goofy as it may sound and it does look, we have about half a dozen motorcycles here in Dillingham. Seriously, one is even a new Triumph! The owner has the full set of leathers and everything. This summer there was about six days of no rain to ride them on out 20 miles of paved road. Please don't bring the Harley.

Funny you should ask about bycycling. We've got an asphalt bike path. Really. It only goes for about 5 or 6 miles, but we do have one and its popular to use. No I'm not kidding. Biking from Dillingham to Lake Alegnagik would be 40 miles round trip and quite a workout, all on asphalt. Yep, Lake rd is asphalted all the way to Alegnagik. I know, bizzare.

If you enjoy winter sports you'll like Dillingham. Snow machines are wildly popular. The $6.31 per gallon gas has put a dampner in their use, but they remain the prefered mode of transportation. In the ten years I've been here the price has gone up, never down, but I suspect we will see some relief this spring.

If you had the chance to leave the motor home in the lower 48 I'd do it. I wouldn't recommend motor homing in Alaska when you live in Dillingham.

What about leaving it in Anchorage to use during the summer? I have always wanted to travel throughout Canada and Alaska.
I already told my wife to sell the Harley in preparation to buy a snowmobile. How about quads? Does anyone use them for transportation around town or woods? Lou

I dunno about the motor home. If you take the police job in Dillingham, odds are good that you'll be very busy from late May thru October. Expect massive overtime. This time of year you'll have to plant evidence on someone to make an arrest. Further, if you have time to goof around during the summer months, I'd advise spending it around this region. The fishing is the best in the world, (Trout in May, Kings in June, Reds in July, Silvers in August, back to trout September thru October,)and you've only got to get about 10 or 15 miles outside Dillingham city limits to be in real Alaskan wilderness. I have prefered spending my summer months in the Dillingham area and getting out of here in the fall or winter for opportunities not found here like pheasant or mule deer hunting. Keeping the coach in a warm climate would give you a good opportunity to travel to a t shirt kind of place this time of year.

Our ground around here is very boggy so quads are usually used for annoying the neighbors and running from the cops while drunk. I think a simple, efficient auto, a reasonable boat and a couple of reasonable snow machines should outfit you very well for most outdoor activities. Airplanes are popular here also and can be used with skiis/ floats/ wheels to get about anywhere.

I'd guess Mark Young has been following this a little, perhaps he'll chime in.

Lou,

4X4 pickup, boat (a necessity) and a smowmachine. Personally I'd bring the 4x4 with me and feel out what the locals are using and work best as far as the boat and snow machine go. As Scott says I think you'd be much better off selling the motor home in CA and using the $$ for your Dillingham vehicles. At least don't bring it to Anchorage.

Mark

Men, thanks for the help, it's greatly appreciated. Is there a gym in town? Lou

No gym. Yes we do have the bike path that is well used, but generally speaking Dillingham is very into its physical un fitness.

I think the cop shop has a weight set and if your Missus gets a job at the hospital there is an exercise room out there.

Thanks, I'll come up with something. Also, I had to push my visit back to the first part of January. Out of 8 days of leave, I'll only have two days in town because of the disatnce and layovers. Hopefully we can meet if only for a few minutes. Your knowledge has been very helpful. Thanks, Lou

Lou,

I didn’t see this thread until tonight. My wife and I lived in Dillingham for 8 years and now live in Anchorage (the last 8 years).

Mark & Scott have given you good advice as far as the Diesel Pusher. Sell it!! It would cost you more to store it in Anchorage than it would to just rent one if you really wanted to tour the road system out of Anchorage.

As far as whether you will like Dillingham or not…no one will predict that for you. We moved there for three months and stayed for eight years.

Good luck
Jim

Jim, thanks for the info. Yes, I am still not sure about the MH, but if the wife wants it in Anchorage...you know the rest. My wife lived in Dutch Harbor as an adventerous youth and loved the whole area. I am looking for a small town police department that's not in the SE, because of the excessive rain.

I am really looking forward to my visit in January. More than likely we will like it and stay. We will be able to travel from Dillingham to where ever provided I have the time off. Otherwise I'll have Scott to keep me out of trouble...or maybe get me in trouble. It doesn't matter so long as he doesn't let me get bored. I will definitely need to learn more about fishing, and hopefully become a better hunter. Lou

This is one former cop being very jealous. What I'd give to have my wife willing to relocate like that. Good luck to you guys.

Thanks for the note. It's my understanding that, for obvious reasons, they have a hard time recruiting and/or retaining cops there. I am at the point in my career where I am looking for a hobby to support my hunting. Seriously, I have done everything I have wanted to do in my 25 year LE career, including being chief for the past 12. I even served as a city manager/chief for four years. I am looking forward to being a small town cop again in a place that I have always wanted to experience. I just turned 44 last week so I still have a few miles left on the odometer. If they need more help, I'll send you a note. Lou

I'll be 44 myself this coming year and dreams of Alaska are slowly waning. Find out if they could use the services of a not so washed up K-9 guy.

I'll be heading there in 30 days. I will definitely let you know. From what Scott was saying is that they have a hard time recruiting and/or retaining troops. I will let you know if they need more help if you're serious.

What part of OR are you from? My wife and her family are from Grants Pass and a her sister and brother-in-law moved to Brookingsafter they went to work at Pelican Bay Prison in CA.
Lou

quote:

Originally posted by tsturm:
I was once told by a Very drunk Alaska Native man that "this is not the United States of America this is Fucking Dillingham".

Chances are if you talked with him the next day he would be a completely different person. Booze does that to some people regardless of the race or heritage.

If you are basing your opinion of the whole community of Dillingham on this lone encounter then that is your loss.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Jim, thanks for the info. Yes, I am still not sure about the MH, but if the wife wants it in Anchorage...you know the rest. My wife lived in Dutch Harbor as an adventerous youth and loved the whole area. I am looking for a small town police department that's not in the SE, because of the excessive rain.

I am really looking forward to my visit in January. More than likely we will like it and stay. We will be able to travel from Dillingham to where ever provided I have the time off. Otherwise I'll have Scott to keep me out of trouble...or maybe get me in trouble. It doesn't matter so long as he doesn't let me get bored. I will definitely need to learn more about fishing, and hopefully become a better hunter. Lou

We are good friends with the present city manager of Dutch. He used to be city manager in Dillingham. If you have any further questions about my perspective or my wife's perspective of living in Dillingham PM me a number and I'll call. Assuming it isn't in Afghanistan.

Dr. Lou...we're up in the northeast corner of the state...pretty good drive to Grants Pass (alot drier too ).

How'd you make out in ND? We just got a new guy from The Dalles. I forgot his name. He's a retired cop and has been in Afganistan for a couple years, but he was up north in Kunduz. Lou

Hi Doc Lou,Nome needs a Top Cop. 1-907-443-5262.
We have roads, approx. 300 miles of them when winter releases it's frosty grip. Rivers, fishing is good,access better, hunting good too.

Gnomed

We moved up here to Alaska last June, we live in Anchorage... Lets say the wife was not very happy the weather was/is the main factor. We came from Sunny Arizona. But now she is starting to like it. The hunting and fishing is great what more can an outdoorsman ask for. If you are going to get a snowmaching or 4 wheeler ie polaris 700 or something like that buy it in the lower 48 if you can. So just be prepared for the wife on not being happy it will take time for her to get adjusted. Also a get 4x4 I drive a dodge 2500 with a diesel... Now with what I know now I should of got a gas powered 3/4 ton... We drove from Arizona to Alaska going thru California up thru Washington. Also if you can buy a trailer to haul your sleds/4 wheelers on down in the lower 48. I bought mine in Arizona for 1800 same trailer up here goes for around 3,000 up here. I think the beautiful summers up here help offset the very cold winters... Today it was around -25

Dr Lou, do you fish? Another great Alaskan hobby

Abob, just got back from a brief visit and loved it. Hooked up with Scott and Tina King for dinner and a nice visit. Looking forward to starting on March 2nd.

I fish, but have a lot to learn about how it's done in Alaska. Looking forward to learning all I can. Lou

Hey Dr. Lou, keep us up to date once you've moved there and are getting setup.

Ken....

Will do.