Show Notes:

In this episode of Process Server Daily, host Mighty Mike Reid heads north to Alaska to talk with Luke Smith, owner of Alaska Investigations and a veteran private investigator and process server with experience spanning the Army Reserves, surveillance, and statewide service in some of the most extreme conditions in the country.

Luke shares deeply personal stories from the field—including a heartbreaking child custody case—along with unforgettable moments involving undercover surveillance, wildlife encounters, and serving papers across remote Alaskan terrain by snow machine, plane, and 4-wheeler. He also talks about business growth, adding K-9 services, professionalism, and what it really takes to succeed in this industry.

This episode is equal parts emotional, educational, and eye-opening—especially for anyone curious about process serving outside the Lower 48.

00:00 — Introduction & show opener
00:30 — Meet Luke Smith (Army Reserves → Private Investigator)
01:30 — How Luke got started in investigations & process serving
03:10 — Worst experience: child custody case & emotional toll
05:20 — Lessons learned from difficult field work
06:40 — Greatest experience: undercover surveillance success
08:10 — Pushing limits in the field & sub rosa tactics
09:40 — What Luke’s excited about now: adding a K-9 unit
11:10 — How K-9 services are used in civil investigations
12:30 — Serving papers across Alaska (planes, snow machines, wildlife)
14:10 — Wildlife encounters: moose, bears & staying safe
15:40 — Rapid fire round: skip tracing in Alaska
16:40 — Favorite defense tools & firearms mindset
18:20 — Book recommendations for servers & investigators
19:30 — Best advice received & professionalism in the field
20:40 — Advice for struggling or new process servers
22:10 — Starting over: networking before opening a business
23:10 — How to connect with Luke Smith
24:00 — Closing thoughts & outro