Surprising Statistics

[akirlu]

So, what do you think would be the statistically deadliest federal law enforcement position in the U.S. today? FBI? Drug Enforcement Agency? Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms? Treasury? Air Marshals? No, actually. None of those. All them sissy-man low risk enforcement jobs take a back seat to: Forest Ranger. Which makes sense after you think about it a bit, but not what I would have expected. But between solitary work in remote areas with no near access to backup, and drug dealers growing pot on Federal land, and random marginal types "taking to the land" and the occasional full-goose nutter with a war club, sure, I believe it. There's a hell of an interesting interview with Jordan Fisher Smith over at the Morning Edition site today, in aid of promoting his new book, Nature Noir. The excerpts make it sound like quite a read.

Comments

[replyhazy.livejournal.com]

I heard that too! I definitely want to read that book. Sounds fascinating.

[pnh.livejournal.com]

Are four out of every 43 forest rangers murdered on the job?

Just wondering, before we conclusively assign them the "statistically deadliest" award...

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

I confess I took the statistic at face value; what federal law enforcement job are you thinking of?

[pnh.livejournal.com]

President of the United States.

Terms

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

Note the claim regards "law enforcement" specifically. It's been a while since I've seen a President either run point on a bust, or prosecute a criminal. In fact... I would think it's for just this reason the Attorney General is traditionally desribed as, "the nation's top law enforcement officer."

I could, of course, be wrong.

Pointer

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

From the Attorney General's page (http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/index.html):

"The Attorney General, as head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer of the Federal Government..."

etc.

Re: Terms

[pnh.livejournal.com]

Oh, fair enough.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I heard part of that this mornng.

I may go and buy the book.

As you say, nutters with war clubs.

TK

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

It was in the news a lot here in California last week. Evidently there have been a lot of big marijuana operations going on in state parks and forest rangers have been murdered as they accidentally stumble onto some of the growers. They made mention of drug lords from Columia moving up here or some such thing.