Rigby Police Chief Larry Anderson is retiring after 42 years of service.  The amazing part is that he was chief for 34 of those years.  That has to be some kind of record - especially since the average tenure of a police chief is less than three years.

When Larry first started in Aug of 1969, the chief handed him a gun and a badge and then left town for the week.  That was the sum total of his training.  Larry has since earned Idaho's top training award - the Executive Certificate.

Larry is an awesome guy and we're going to miss him.  Check out this cool artwork below:

As I watch police respond to public protest – most recently, Occupy Wall Street - it’s a good time to review our policing methods and how they apply to crowd control.  This isn’t Syria and our job isn’t to protect the government.

Basically, we apply the same concepts we use in other police situations from domestic violence to traffic stops with one significant difference.  We need to give great deference to the First Amendment right to free speech.  Most protesters aren’t criminals and we must recognize the difference between intentions to disrupt versus intentions to inflict violence.

Chemical agents, tasers, and bean bags have no place in protest movements except under very narrow circumstances related to personal safety.  They should never be used to get compliance for someone refusing to leave.  Doing so will almost certainly make matters worse and galvanize an even larger, more violent protest.   We do not want to become the focus of the protest.

We should be flexible and we should not use minor infractions as an excuse to make an arrest.

Mirroring the Madison Wisconsin approach, here are some key concepts we will follow:

1.      Begin with a soft approach with plenty of dialogue, preferably with event organizers before the event starts.  Explain up front:

a.      We are here to defend your right to demonstrate, but we can’t allow you to hurt others or destroy property. 

b.      Whether or not we support your position, we will remain neutral. 

c.      We will not allow others to harm you if you hold an unpopular position.

d.      If you want to be arrested to make a statement, we will help you with that and will treat you respectfully and not harm you while in our custody.  In turn, we expect you to cooperate with us.

2.      Avoid anonymity at all costs.  Police are to be easily identifiable, with their names and badge numbers clearly visible.  Avoid any depersonalization that reduces the police to be anonymous agents.  Anonymity encourages negative crowd behavior.  It can also lead to unaccountable behavior on the part of the police.  To protect the officers working with the crowd (depending on the size and type of protest) we might have a tactical team on standby in a location near the demonstration but out of sight.

3.      Have visible leadership with command officers present.  I expect to be called and may respond personally.

Occasionally, there will be a few knot-heads in the group that really want to egg on the police.  Don’t fall for it.

All I can say is Wow!  The Triathlon was a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike race, and a 26.2 mile run – all in less than 17 hours or they drag you out of the race.

I think the record is still safe, but again, WOW!  Bruce proved that he is a “real man”.  But then again, he did do it in Phoenix.  How about Alaska next time, Bruce?

[Newest addition to the IFPD Sage Albright flanked by Captain McBride on the left and Mayor Fuhriman on the right]

Shelley native Sage Albright was sworn in Thursday afternoon which will bring us back up to full strength.  “Idaho Falls is the hub of our community and I want to make it a better place,” Albright said prior to his swearing in as a police officer.

If you asked me when I was in high school, why some countries are poor and some are rich, I’d probably have mumbled something about natural resources.  If you asked the same question while I was in college, I would have replied, “A freedom-oriented economic system.”  Ask me now and I’d add the importance of the Rule of Law.

In a nutshell, Rule of Law ensures that those who happen to have money or political clout play by the same rules as everyone else.  Our economic system doesn’t really matter if corruption is rampant or certain classes of citizens are immune from the law (see post-soviet Russia).

Police are often seen as the first line of defense (and unfortunately offense) as it pertains to the Rule of Law.

A few years ago, while visiting another country, I struck up a conversation with an individual.  He had an easygoing smile and patiently helped me with my limited language skills.  As we exchanged backgrounds, with me explaining that I was a police officer, there was an instant change.  He became very deferential, but of more concern to me was the fear in his eyes.  I felt betrayed by those who should have been his protectors and I hated it.

We’re fortunate that police in the United States, Idaho in particular, are largely trusted.  Yet even though blatant corruption is rare, we occasionally face challenges from those wanting special consideration.

News flash – If you get stopped for speeding and want to guarantee getting a ticket, start the conversation with, “Do you know who I am?”  Police officers around here pride themselves on following the Rule of Law.  If they stop a politically connected person, they delight in treating them the same as anyone else.  I’m behind that 100% and won’t compromise on this principle even if it meant my career.  Fortunately, it won’t because the Mayor gets it.

Some people are a little more subtle.  I had a man of influence call me that wanted an airport parking ticket to go away.  He started by telling me how much he’d supported the police in the past and then started ticking off names of officers that were close personal friends.  I said I was confident that he wouldn’t want me to extend him any special consideration, right?  Much chagrinned, he agreed and paid the fine.

Occasionally, a police officer will be faced with protecting someone’s constitutional rights when he ardently disagrees with it.  With firm determination to do the right thing, he will do his duty knowing that he is protecting the Rule of Law.

Above all else (our intelligence, our competence, our charm, and even our rugged good looks) the public expects us to be fair and that strikes to the heart of our core value of integrity and how we defend the Rule of Law ensuring that no one is above the law.

Check out the video out-takes of Sergeant Dave Frei and Joelyn Hansen who worked hard on a Public Service Announcement in an attempt to get people to keep their sidewalks clear of snow and cars.

It’s a good reminder – everyday – that freedom comes at a cost and there is always someone that must willingly keep constant vigil to maintain it.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Sometimes amongst the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holiday season, I fear it’s overlooked. So, I ask you not to forget. In fact, I ask you to thank those men and women that serve and have served our country each and every time you have the opportunity to do so.

The first time I eyed the Grand Teton, my quick assessment from the east showed the logic of climbing it via Disappointment Peak.  Guess what?  There’s a reason it’s called Disappointment Peak.  Legend has it that it got its name when a couple climbers made an attempt on the Grand Teton only to find themselves on a false summit, facing a 450-foot sheer drop.  Aside from a really long rope, the only solution is to backtrack thousands of vertical feet and essentially start over.

Have you ever climbed the wrong mountain – metaphorically speaking – such as wasting a lot of time and money on things that have no lasting value?   I’ve been on top of both the Grand Teton and Disappointment Peak but never on the same day.  I’ve also climbed my share of metaphorical “Disappointment Peaks”.

It seems like law enforcement is pulled a thousand different directions, which sometimes leads to climbing the wrong mountain.  Over the years, I’ve watched different police agencies branch into areas that I thought were a bit of a reach.

To keep us on track at the IFPD, we have a Vision and a Mission Statement.  It is a brief description of our core purpose and answers the question, “Why do we exist?”  Everything we do should point to our mission.  From a practical perspective, it helps keep us all on the same page.  It is the basis for strategic planning and very importantly, it acts as a measuring stick against which I apply my decisions.

Vision
A community safe from crime and disorder

Mission
We work with our fellow citizens to create a community safe from crime and disorder, and enforce the law in a manner faithful to the constitution of the United States of America.

Tomorrow, Wednesday Nov. 9 at noon, will be the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.  It will involve radio and television and last up to 3 ½ minutes.  You should hear a message indicating it is just a test, but don’t panic if you don’t.

By the way, experts recommend being prepared for an emergency evacuation with food, water, and shelter for a couple days.  Are you ready?

This past weekend, our patrol officers made four arrests for the solicitation of prostitutes at a local motel.  It all started when officers came into contact with two Boise women during a traffic stop that were in town selling sex through an Internet ad.

This isn’t the first case of Internet prostitution and it likely won’t be the last. A couple of years ago, we arrested two women from Portland, Ore., who had placed an ad on Craigslist soliciting themselves to local residents. To their surprise, they happened to solicit an undercover police officer.

These examples on Internet soliciting certainly demonstrate how “the world’s oldest profession” has changed with the modern times and the age of technology.

Rexburg PD Facebooked a great video on officer involved shootings from Oregon.  It addresses some common myths and shows some of the differences between Hollywood and real life.  Take 17 minutes and watch it.

Pocatello Chief JR Miller resigned Wednesday night to return to an investigative arm of the Florida Governor’s office.  JR was appointed Pocatello's Police Chief a few months before I came on board as Idaho Falls Chief - a little more than four years ago.
By the way, wind/snow versus alligators/snakes?  I think I’ll stick with the cold weather, though I must admit his timing is impeccable.

Friday, we had another officer involved shooting – the third in less than a year.  While national statistics are not kept, this is certainly unusual for Idaho Falls.

This incident will be investigated by outside agencies as were the other two.  Preliminary information indicates that the officers' actions likely saved lives, but we need to wait for a complete investigation.  The Idaho State Police is the lead agency in the investigation and they are being assisted by other law enforcement entities.  Once the investigation is complete, the prosecuting attorney will make the legal determination if the shooting was justified.  It usually takes a few weeks.

There are a million different kinds of scams, but this one illustrates a common theme.  We arrested 26-year-old Jonathan M. Meng yesterday for the sale of a Harley Davidson that doesn’t exist.

The Ohio victim contacted us after he tried to purchase a motorcycle for $8,866 on eBay earlier in the month.  The Idaho Falls seller initially instructed him to wire the money to a bank account held by an eBay agent. But was later instructed to cancel the wire transfer and instead wire it to a new account held by Meng as the other eBay agent had been in an accident.

The buyer said he was skeptical at first, but through an “eBay Live Chat” was assured by the seller that it was legitimate and once the money was received the motorcycle would be shipped to him. He was also assured the money would be held in the account until the buyer received and inspected the motorcycle.

Bottom line is the motorcycle never came and the buyer learned that the site was fraudulent.

The prolific Seattle superhero, known as Phoenix Jones, made news headlines throughout the west this week. Not because he saved the residents of the Emerald City from dirt bags or the like, but because police arrested him for assaulting several people with pepper spray in attempts to bust up an alleged fight.


It’s an amusing story. I’m actually torn on whether to admire the guy for his tenacity to help fight crime or call him an idiot in his approach to crime fighting. The irony of the story is that Mr. Jones’ attempts to fight crime actually created more crime.

The Seattle PD had this to say about the incident:

“Our message has been the same from the beginning: If you see something that warrants calling 911, call 911,” Seattle police spokesman Det. Mark Jamieson said. “Just because he’s dressed up in costume doesn’t mean he’s in special consideration or above the law. You can’t go around pepper spraying people because you think they are fighting.”

The Idaho Falls Police Department encourages community involvement when it comes to fighting crime or community policing. It’s what assists the department in keeping our crime rates low. We don’t, however, encourage people taking the law into their own hands.

If you want to help the police in fighting crime, I’d offer these two suggestions:

1. If you witness a crime or are a victim of a crime, report it to police. Officers are highly trained to handle these situations and try and bring it to a good resolution.

2. Take an active role in crime prevention by considering organizing a neighborhood watch or by practicing crime prevention methods, such as locking doors/windows, educating children and adults about obeying the law or promoting public safety.

For more information on crime prevention, visit our website at idahofallspolice.com, IFPD Facebook page or ncpc.org. Remember October is National Crime Prevention Month, making a perfect time to start thinking about how you can help build a safe community.

Stephanie posed a great solution to illegally parked cars.  Think I can get the City Council to sign off on it?  I'm sure Mayor Fuhriman would enjoy driving.  :)

Notice this doesn’t include drug crimes.  That’s because they aren't tracked the same way.  Practically all reported drug crimes are the result of arrest, not illegal drug use.  So it isn’t a useful comparison.

As a side note, we're making a ton of drug arrests.  Check out our press releases and you’ll see what I mean.

[Officer Kent Hoskins talks to a group about his car and equipment during a police station tour]

You can’t be a police officer very long before a parent will ask you to “scare their kid.”  That’s a bad idea.  I love DARE Officer Kevin Pettingill’s description of a youngster’s first interaction with the police when Dad yells, “Get down, there’s a cop!” if they aren’t buckled in.  The child might be too young to understand what a cop is, but they know it’s scary.

Officer Dustin Howell is the newest addition to the Idaho Falls Police Department. As an Idaho Falls native he welcomes the opportunity to serve his hometown.

Good reasons to why the IFPD snatched him away from the Chubbuck Police Department. Sorry, Chubbuck, but we know a good man when we see one.

“I’m just glad to be here,” Dustin said. “It’s always nerve-racking meeting new people but it’s been awesome.”

Dustin is a man of accomplishment having earned the United States Air Force Expert Marksman award during his 9 years of service and Officer Of The Year during his two and a half year stint with the Chubbuck Police Department. He’s also been educated in tactical countermeasures, counterdrug training, drug interdiction and street survival.

Aside from his career he’s a busy husband and father of three, spending some of his time coaching a traveling baseball team and attending dance classes. According to his wife, Dustin has a “goofy side” sometimes doning the “MINGA mask” for the family "Scare Wars." She claims to have heard "little girl screams" escape his lips when he was on the receiving end. We'll have to test that.





[The Guys Who Keep You Safe]

If you get stopped for texting or speeding in Idaho Falls, there’s a good chance it will be from one of these guys.  Thanks to their excellent work, traffic crashes are down 20% from last year and traffic injuries are down 23%.

Any police officer can write a ticket.  But we have six officers in our Traffic Unit that specialize in traffic related matters such as crash investigation and traffic enforcement.  Did you know that there is more death, injury, and property loss from crashes than from all other crimes combined?  If you saw what they saw, you might have a little more understanding when they don’t “give you a break”.