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How We Promote

Shhh...  They're taking the test as I'm writing this.   
The IFPD is Civil Service, meaning there are rules administered by a committee appointed by the Mayor to oversee hiring, promotions, and discipline.

Today begins the testing process for sergeant and lieutenant administered under the direction of the Civil Service Commission.  At the end of that process, the commission gives me the top three names and I can choose from any of those three for promotion.  If another opening occurs, number 4 is pushed into the list.
The Commission is scoring the candidates based on the following:
1.      35% staff evaluations
2.      25% written test
3.      40% assessment
a.      Panel interview with community members and subject matter experts – cops
b.      Written assessment on policy, constitution, Idaho law, city ordinances etc.

Once I get the three names, I’ll do a department-wide 360 using Survey Monkey and gather information from outside sources such as judges, the prosecuting attorney, and other organizations we work with.  I’ll also examine their personnel file and work history.

The final decision will likely be announced next week.

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Congratulations Libby!


In 3 years, 911 Dispatcher Libby Severinson has proven to exemplify great qualities as a dispatcher which is why we’ve selected her to become our newest dispatch supervisor.
“She has a real ability to promote a positive and effective team,” 911 Administrator Heather Kunz said.
Libby began with dispatch in June 2009. Previously she served in the United States Army.
In her short time at the 911 Center, Libby has taken numerous calls, but the most memorable came only months after being hired. In December 2009, she found herself assisting in dispatching emergency responders to the murder-suicide at the Idaho Falls Walmart parking lot.
Libby was selected as Dispatcher of the Year in 2011.

Congratulations Libby!

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Royce Clements Promoted to Captain


Royce has demonstrated solid leadership and an incredible passion for police work.  He bleeds blue.  That’s one of the reasons I selected him as captain.  Here’s a video of the commissioning.
Royce and his grandson Gage
Royce started his police career January 11, 1982. I know that because he started one week after me and we went to the police academy together. During our morning runs at the academy, he usually came in ahead of me, but I’d like to point out that I did beat him once, though I think he was sick (of running?).

Royce is an FBI National Academy graduate and has received the Medal of Valor.  He is currently the SWAT Commander.

When Royce’s son, Dan, decided to become a cop, Royce did cartwheels (I would like to have seen that).  Dan, pictured above, was recently promoted to Sergeant in Twin Falls and is well on his way to a distinguished career.  I guess the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.


Is Royce really that tall or are Kerry & Irene just short?

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Photoshop? What's photoshop?



Ignore those earlier posts from Joelyn.  I’m fine. 
As you can see from the photo, I’ve had a miraculous recovery.  Not only has my shoulder healed, but I think I look younger.  In fact, I might even have more hair.

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What would you do?



By Joelyn Hansen


What would you do if a teenager approached you asking you to purchase beer for them? What would you do if you’re the store clerk and someone under the age of 21 came into the store trying to purchase a bottle of alcohol?
Hopefully, you’d refuse. But, surprisingly, not everyone refuses to sell to or purchase alcohol for minors.

A couple of weeks ago, Idaho Falls Police worked with the Idaho State Police Alcohol Beverage Control in a sting operation as they sent teenagers into businesses to purchase alcohol.

Five times these teens were sold alcohol. That’s five too many.

Thanks to a Department of Juvenile Corrections grant, more people will be held accountable for selling alcohol to minors as the IFPD will conduct random compliance checks throughout the year.



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The One-Armed Chief

By Joelyn Hansen
The chief won’t be shooting any guns anytime soon. From the photograph you can see that unless his target happened to be directly to his left his effectiveness with the gun is very limited.
Two weeks ago the chief had his shoulder scoped to repair a tear. I’m sure he’d like to say the injury came from rescuing a baby out of a burning building or something to that affect, but I’m thinking it’s from years of wear and tear from his 30-years as a police officer and his outdoor hobbies. Did I mention that he’s been an officer almost longer than I’ve been alive?!
For the next two months (maybe less depending upon how obedient the chief is to the doctor’s orders) the chief will be in the sling and have to get along with using his left arm and hand. He’s not quite ready to shoot a gun with his left, but he’s getting to be fairly proficient at typing with his left hand only.
Hopefully he’ll have a quick recovery!

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Cleaning Up Graffiti



By Joelyn Hansen


Do you ever have the knack of noticing that one tiny detail nobody else notices or even pays attention to?

That’s usually how it is with me and graffiti. It’s the one thing I have no problem noticing. I didn’t used to pay that much attention to graffiti.

But, now that I work at the police department and am tasked with cleaning it up as part of my job, I notice it a lot more. Now that the summer season is here, it will be on my mind a lot more.

The City of Idaho Falls is fortunate compared to other Idaho cities. City officials a few years ago recognized the problems that come with graffiti and enacted an ordinance requiring it to be cleaned up as soon as possible – whether by the property owner or IFPD volunteers.

It certainly makes a difference within our community despite that sometimes it can be difficult to get it cleaned up in a timely fashion or resources can be limited.

Yet, the real attribute that comes from this city ordinance really comes from how it enables residents to take ownership in Idaho Falls. Over the years, Idaho Falls has had many volunteers throughout the community come forward and participate in a clean-up project.

Just yesterday, I had a call from the Bonneville Youth Development Council looking for a graffiti clean-up project. Those kids did a great job and certainly made a positive mark on their community. Just like our other volunteers they really made this a great place to live with just some paint and a brush.

Aside from the volunteers, other community members had done their part by donating supplies and reporting graffiti to the police department. All are important roles in combating the graffiti problem.

I encourage everyone to get involved with the efforts to stop and clean-up graffiti.

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Looking for a parking space?




By Joelyn Hansen


If you’ve had to try and find a parking space in downtown Idaho Falls you’ll be happy to know that the city created new parking spaces on Constitution Avenue to help alleviate the problem.

With this new creation of parking there are some important things to know:

• Middle parking on Constitution Avenue from Yellowstone to Park Avenue is a two-hour limit.

• Middle parking on Constitution Avenue from Park Avenue to Capital Avenue is all-day parking.

• There is no longer diagonal parking – it’s parallel parking.

The changes to Constitution aren’t going to eliminate the entirety of the downtown parking, but we hope that it at least eases some of the problem. We hope that residents are patient too as they adapt to the changes!

Also, get ready for construction on Memorial Drive. It is set to start on July 5th!



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To the Rescue



By Joelyn Hansen

Yesterday after months of anticipation, the Bonneville County Emergency Operations Centers was activated. Don't worry, it was a test, but a good test of how well the county would handle a disaster in Bonneville County. 

For 4 hours during a mock response to a 7.2 earthquake, the center was inundated with phone call after phone call -- similar to what it would be like in real emergency -- to determine how well the EOC would function in a real-life emergency. Overall, the center functioned well.

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