Arm them?  Really bad idea.   A VPSO isn't,  "basically a civilian response force" as you describe it.

According to the Alaska Public Safety website,  "A VPSO Recruit attends a fifteen (15) week Alaska Law Enforcement Academy (ALET), an additional 2 week Rural Fire Protection Specialist class, a 1 week Emergency Trauma Technician class, and continuing annual training in Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services , and Fire protection."

Mr. Hall does not know where to draw the line.  I suspect Mr. Hall was driving recklessly.   

Assisting the police is commendable but that doesn't give citizens carte blanche in Anchorage and the Valley.  Meeting with any civil group is encouraged and providing a contact for a detective seems reasonable. A citizen recognition program is already in place with public award ceremonies.  

SB 91 is scheduled to be implemented in stages and little is in effect today.  SB 91 isn't responsible for increases in crime in Alaska.