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A Close Friend Retires


One of my closest colleagues retired Friday.  Ken Brown put in 28 years working everything including undercover narcotics, patrol, detectives, traffic, and most recently Captain of Detectives.  Through his career he investigated several high-profile, violent crimes in Idaho Falls.
Ken and I worked together in many areas over the years.  He’s a natural athlete.  When we were on SWAT together, part of the annual qualification was a timed two-mile run.  I had to work out regularly to pass it.  Ken would just show up after a tennis game and lap me by the second mile.  Did I mention he still has a full head of hair?  Nope, no jealously here.
Ken is a faithful father and husband.  I recall a work trip to Vegas we made with some colleagues.  You can guess at the after-hours events that were available.  Without any coaxing on my part, Ken chose the higher path.  I remember him commenting on wishing his wife was there.  Cool, huh?
Ken is a graduate of the FBI Nation Academy and has earned several commendations and recognitions for his actions, including “Supervisor of the Year” in 2005. He moved up through the ranks being promoted to sergeant in 1999, lieutenant in 2001 and captain in 2007.
I took him mountain climbing once, which is kind of funny when you realize he’s afraid of heights.  I remember him clawing his way to a cliff’s edge determined to face his fears – all the time screaming like a little girl.  I love that courage!
Ken is an incredible leader and knows how to make things happen.  He has an uncanny ability to size up a problem and quickly find the solution.  He is known for his compassion for victims.
Ken and I have worked together, played together, and shed tears together.  I’m going to miss him.

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Peace Officer's Memorial


On Monday, members of local law enforcement and the community gathered at the Courthouse to pay homage to the men and women, particularly those in Idaho, that have lost their lives while serving as police officers.


The National Peace Officer’s Memorial Day started in 1962, pays tribute to police officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty.  Across the nation, 140 to 160 officers are killed annually.  Last year, the number was 166.  Through April of this year, there have been 35.

Average age: 44
Average tour of duty: 13 years 5 months
Most common cause of death: gunfire

We don’t like to dwell on the possibility that we won’t be coming home tonight.  But police officers and their families face that prospect every day.

Why do they do it?  Because when these brave men and women look in the mirror, they pose the question, “If not me, then who?” -my favorite combination: courage and love.



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Juvenile Arrest Explained


There was a recent dust up on TV about the IFPD charging a 10-year-old for bringing a gun to school.  Some people thought this meant we drug him out of class in hand cuffs and hauled him off to jail.  Not even close.

Some things can’t be explained with a 10-second sound bite, so here’s my shot at giving a quick summary of how the juvenile system works:

Except in the most serious cases, the juvenile is not picked up by police and taken to the juvenile detention center, but rather is “referred” by police to the Juvenile Probation Department via paper, not hand cuffs.  At that point, Juvenile Probation does a background on the child – taking in consideration prior criminal acts, the current criminal act, and age – and makes a recommendation to prosecutors.

Prosecutors can then either file formal criminal charges in court or place the juvenile in an informal diversion program.  A diversion program is usually for those that are first-time offenders or young offenders.  Diversion programs are designed to address the problem and provide a plan to correct it without the child having a permanent record.  The goal is what’s best for the child.

The deputy prosecutor assigned to juveniles discussed this case with me and we both agreed that informal diversion would likely be appropriate.  You may be one of those that thought the kid should have just received a time out.  Bringing a gun inside the school?  Sorry, I’m not there.  Haul him off in handcuffs?  Nope, I’m not there either.  Diversion program designed to help support the parent and help the child be a productive member of society?  - Sounds about right to me.

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Council Considers Less Regulation


This coming Tuesday morning, the city council is going to discuss dumping two ordinances, Public Dancing Establishments and Hotel Licensing.  Besides proposing new or revising existing ordinances, I believe I have a responsibility to propose repealing ordinances that no longer serve the public good and in this case, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on businesses.

The Public Dancing Establishments ordinance was adopted in 1922 and has been amended several times over the years, with the last time being in 2009, when I recommended removing a restriction prohibiting dancing on Sundays.  Between the fire codes and alcohol laws, there are already plenty of rules covering the safety aspects.

The Hotel Ordinance was adopted in 1908 to assure hotels keep a registry. In today’s business world, they do this anyway.  We currently have 18 hotel/motel licenses issued and the city collects 50 cents a room annually.  This isn’t a big expense for the hotels, but it is one more piece of paperwork that adds to their regulatory burden.

I’m a big believer in the rule of law and the way I see it, unnecessary or antiquated laws have the net effect of degrading the respect for laws in general, including those that really matter. 

You can link to the ordinances here and then click on Title 4-19 for Dancing Establishments and Title 4-17 for Hotels.  If you’d like to weigh in, contact a city council member or attend Tuesday’s work session which begins at 8:00 a.m. at the council chambers Tuesday May 8.

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Making a Fashion Statement


By Joelyn Hansen

Today we wear denim. Not because it's casual Thursday. Not because it's comfortable. Not because we had nothing else to wear. But because today our fashion statement is making a statement. We’re protesting sexual assault.

Why denim?

In the 1990s, an 18-year old Italian girl is picked up by her married 45-year old driving instructor for her very first lesson. He takes her to an isolated road, pulls her out of the car, wrestles her out of one leg of her jeans and forcefully rapes her. Threatened with death if she tells anyone, he makes her drive the car home. Later that night she tells her parents, and they help and support her to press charges. The perpetrator gets arrested and is prosecuted. He is convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.

He appeals the sentence. The case makes it’s all the way to the Italian Supreme Court. Within a matter of days the case against the driving instructor is overturned, dismissed, and the perpetrator released. In a statement by the Chief Judge, he argued, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

Enraged by the verdict, within a matter of hours the women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work.


The Idaho Falls Police Department knows the importance of raising awareness about sexual assault within our communities, which is why we choose to wear jeans in honor of denim day.

Statistics show that one out of every six American women are victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. That means 17.7 million are victims of these crimes. It’s 3 percent, or 2.78 million, of American men. The scariest statistic is that 44 percent of rape victims are under age 18 and three out of 20 victims are under age 12.

Denim Day is only one day a year. However, the IFPD vows to fight sexual assault 365 days a year. Will you join us?

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It's Somebody's Special Day!



Guess what?! This Boy Scout turned Police Chief is celebrating a birthday today!!!

Happy Birthday Steve!!!



By the way.....this is an unathorized blog post!

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Our Loss, Our Gain

One of our most dedicated Citizen’s Watch Patrol volunteers has retired into a new job.  The good news is that the new job is with us.  Harvey “Ed” Gord has joined us as a front desk officer.  Normally, we use retired cops to fill this role, but Harvey pretty much knows the ins and outs of the department.

Harvey retired from Atlas Mechanical in May 1999 as the Plumbing Foreman and joined the Citizen’s Watch Patrol in 2002.  Within months after completing training he was appointed to the CWP Advisory Board and then as CWP Commander.

Harvey was instrumental in building training program and abandoned vehicle program for CWP.  He is the recipient of the Idaho Falls Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association “Outstanding Achievement” Award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and is the unique position of being the only non-cop to receive a Commander’s Commendation from the IFPD.  He’s also recovered 4 stolen vehicles in Idaho Falls.

Harvey was diagnosed with lung cancer and had 2 operations in April 2006. Three days out of the hospital he was asking for something to do. He couldn’t wait to get back to work with us.

There will be a large hole in the Citizen’s Watch Patrol but we’re happy he’s chosen to take the position.  As Joelyn describes it, “Harvey is truly the backbone to the CWP and his contributions to the program…. To say that he will be missed is an understatement because there will never be another man to likely show the same dedication and commitment.”

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