Forest service officer shooting

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

Mike... USFS LEO's are the top law dog in the state...They always carry guns and they go through the same training as the FBI I believe.... (I don't know that as fact... but that is what I was told).....

[coues7]

the forestry guys are studs! just sayin

Hopefully that is sarcasm......LEO's are NOT your friend. The sooner everyone understands that the better off you'll be.....our country is turning into a police state.

[hoghntr]

Mike... USFS LEO's are the top law dog in the state...They always carry guns and they go through the same training as the FBI I believe.... (I don't know that as fact... but that is what I was told).....

Huh. well ive only had ridiculous incidents with them so probably not the copper version of forestry dep. such as a gal slamming on breaks and reversing to my camp and telling me it is illegal to shoot my bow in the woods (at a target in 6a while on elk hunt) .. then left me warning ticket for having cans and bottles loose at bottom of tree (in a pile) and not in a trash bag (winds were about 50mph).. so I have no idear about the real forestry leo's. I am hoping with all the new rules they quit hanging by the unmarked rds that are no longer legal to use and maybe justg put a sign up and possibly police the new designated camp areas for idiotic behavior.

 

As for your buddy taking a life is difficult even when justified so he and his family are in my prayers Gino. And although some may not like this the other guys family is also! very unfortunate when a person never sees the Light and continues down wrong path.. I have lost a family member that was justifiably killed and it is still difficult.

[firstcoueswas80]

 

Forestry leo have had guns since at least the first time i encountered them in 2003.

Hmm guess I never noticed but then again I rarely see anyone out there...

They're law enforcement officers, certified Arizona peace officers, of course they carry guns, just like a cop.

[AZLance]

I work with the Forest Service LEO'S on a daily basis and you couldn't find a nicer bunch of guys. Of course just like anywhere there can be bad apples. The mission in life is to come home at the end of the day.

 

As for the Archery vs Rifle thing... just talked to a guy near Payson that admitted he hit at least 5 different bulls and never found one of them. And he was still hunting when I drove off.

[lancetkenyon]

 

the forestry guys are studs! just sayin

Hopefully that is sarcasm......LEO's are NOT your friend. The sooner everyone understands that the better off you'll be.....our country is turning into a police state.

 

SO I guess that means you will not waste their time if your car is stolen, your house is broken into, or you get into an accident?

 

LEOs are the people doing their job to protect and serve. Those people are generally good (98%). It is certain bureaucrats that make the rules for them to follow that need to be watched carefully.

 

I swear, some of the people here ONLY pick up on the bad news, and that is partially the media's fault. I mean, why air stories of the police doing anything good? Those won't get you ratings, right?

[PAugie17]

A good friend of mine was hunting in his tree stand behind a tank in 6a(bull tag) when a group of drunks pulled up and started unloading AK's and other high powered rifles into the dam he was behind.He had to bail out of his stand and call LE. LE showed up and then told my friend that the men were to drunk to drive and they had children so they could not tell them to leave. After they left the drunk idiots harassed my friends camp firing off rounds around it at night. He packed camp and left. Returned mid week and the men returned Friday and harassed him again.they claimed to be hunters but they didn't get drawn so they didn't care.

T

[PAugie17]

 

A good friend of mine was hunting in his tree stand behind a tank in 6a(bull tag) when a group of drunks pulled up and started unloading AK's and other high powered rifles into the dam he was behind.He had to bail out of his stand and call LE. LE showed up and then told my friend that the men were to drunk to drive and they had children so they could not tell them to leave. After they left the drunk idiots harassed my friends camp firing off rounds around it at night. He packed camp and left. Returned mid week and the men returned Friday and harassed him again.they claimed to be hunters but they didn't get drawn so they didn't care.

T

 

The same thing happened to me during the 19A deer hunt two years ago. They were shooting AK's and riding quads through our camp with kids. When we confronted them they said the same exact thing,"we hunt too but didn't get drawn". We ended up leaving too.

[sjvcon]

I work with the Forest Service LEO'S on a daily basis and you couldn't find a nicer bunch of guys. Of course just like anywhere there can be bad apples. The mission in life is to come home at the end of the day.

 

As for the Archery vs Rifle thing... just talked to a guy near Payson that admitted he hit at least 5 different bulls and never found one of them. And he was still hunting when I drove off.

Geez. Guys like that just don't get it. What a DOLT!!!!!!!!!!!

[Adicted]

Authorities have identified the man who was shot and killed by a U.S. Forest Service officer near Payson on Friday.

MOREAdditional Links

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said 66-year-old Courtney James VanRiper, also spelled Van Ripper, was shot after attacking the officer in the Blue Ridge area.

VanRiper's last known address was Oklahoma City, OK, and authorities believe at some point he lived in Wyoming. Detectives have not been able to reach his family.

The U.S. Forest Service said the officer contacted VanRiper who was camping in the forest near the junction of Highway 260 and State Route 87 off of Forest Service Road 616.

VanRiper sprayed bear repellant in the officer's face and while the officer had impaired vision, he fired multiple rounds at VanRiper, striking him twice, Coconino County Sheriff's Office said.

VanRiper was taken to Payson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The Forest Service said their officer, 34-year-old Douglas Pederson, was not hurt. Pederson has worked with the Forest Service for 15 years and has been a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer for the last two years.

Detectives said VanRiper has an outstanding felony warrant for a probation violation out of the Yavapai County Superior Court. The vehicle VanRiper had was reported stolen out of Flagstaff and he also had a stolen handgun, according to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office and the FBI are both investigating the shooting

[Snapshot]

With all of the scandals, cover-ups, and targeting of citizens, by some of the out of control Federal agencies, you really can't blame those of us who have a serious distrust, and lack of respect for the Fed's.

 

I treat the FED, the same way they treat me. "Guilty until proven innocent"

 

I also understand there are many good folks that work at the Federal level. Common folks just like all of us. These Federal employee's have to deal with the pencil pushing boneheads in Washington D.C, whom lately, always seem to make, highly questionable, and destructive decisions.

 

As to the USFS officer......He was justified in what he did. He got a criminal off the planet, and made it home to his family at the end of the day. Regardless of how I feel about "big brother Fed", I don't like to see anything bad happen to the good guys, no matter who they work for.