Crime Mapping

Click the link from our website to check out the crime in your neighborhood. It will give you a pin map of crimes reported to the police.

What’s really cool is that you can customize it to your neighborhood. You can track crimes by category, day of the week, and proximity to your house. You can even receive email alerts.

Crime Mapping is updated every 24 hours. While we chose not to show the exact address, it does narrow it down to a block.

It’s a great tool for Neighborhood Watch groups. The other day, Lani Landon from Shamrock Park contacted us about a couple of vandalism cases that she was alerted to through the program. From further information we gave her, she was able to alert her neighbors so they can all keep an eye out.

Occupy Wall Street and the Police

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.

Prosecutor Is Tough In More Ways Than One

While I was stuffing myself with turkey last week, Bonneville County Prosecutor Bruce Pickett competed in an Iron Man contest for the second time. Isn’t there an IQ test involved in getting into law school?

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?

Robberies Solved With Citizen's Help

This is how it is supposed to work and demonstrates why it is vital that the community work together to solve crime problems. A special thanks to the news media and Kris Johnson.

Last week, three robberies occurred at KJ Phillips 66 at 495 W 17^th, Speedi Mart at 415 E Anderson, and the Chevron on Woodruff & North Yellowstone. In all three robberies, a knife was used and the clerks were told to empty their tills.

We put out a photo of the suspect and the news media ran with it. Kris Johnson of the Gun Shop recognized the photo posted on Channel 8’s website as he had an earlier encounter with the suspect. As a side note, the IFPD and BCSO solved the Gun Shop burglary this past summer. It’s nice for the Gun Shop to return the favor!

On an unhappy note, one of the men arrested is the son of a police officer who has been home sick with cancer. The parents are heartbroken and feel for their son. They are especially saddened that while he is an adult in size and age, epilepsy and mild retardation has given him the mind of a child.

The job of a police officer is never easy, particularly when it involves the arrest of a fellow officer’s son. But we are tasked with upholding the law with integrity and above all that’s what we do.

Drug Arrest Up

Drug arrests are up, but does that mean drug use is up? Not necessarily.

Unlike most crimes reported to the police, drug crimes typically don’t have a victim. Drug arrests are usually made one of two ways: an undercover investigation or through the actions of an alert patrol officer that is already interacting with the suspect for another reason, such as a traffic violation.

Some months ago, we teamed up with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for a combined drug enforcement task force. But most of the increases in arrests are from the outstanding work done by patrol officers. The most common arrests appear to be Marijuana, Methamphetamine, and more recently, Spice.

By the way, a quick review of the national literature shows that drug use is up mostly because of an increase in pot smokers. Cocaine is dropping and Meth might be dropping. Locally, I’m pretty confident that Cocaine use is down, but I’m not so sure about Meth.

Sage Albright Sworn in as Newest Officer

[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.

As the oldest of four boys, Deann Albright said her son has always been a hard worker with a willingness to serve. Her son’s chosen profession is no surprise because of his interest in finding a service-oriented career.

Prior to his selection at the IFPD, Albright worked in construction and attended Brigham Young University-Idaho. He and his wife, Stephanie, have a two-year-old son.

Sage was selected from a large pool of applicants. I chose him because he personifies the knight-in-shinning-armor courageous approach to service and his heart is pure.

I also have no doubt that Sage will wear his power lightly in spite of the fact that as a youngster left in charge of his brothers, he decided they all needed haircuts and gave it to them above their protest.

So if you need a haircut and feel like speeding…

IFPD Mourns the Loss of Property Clerk Mickey Callow

Evidence and Property Clerk, Mickey Callow, passed away Saturday from cancer.

“Mickey was a hero and inspiration to many here at the police department,” Capt. Mark McBride said. “She fought valiantly through the struggles of cancer. I admired her for her courage and tenacity.”

Mickey hired on with the IFPD in November 2005. She is remembered for her dedication, professionalism and her incredible work ethic in performing her duties in the evidence and property room.

In September 2010, Mickey was presented with the Captains Commendation in recognition of her excellent efforts to bring the evidence room operations up to the standards of the International Association of Property and Evidence.

This honor came after a 2010 audit that said our evidence/property room was one of the five best property units (out of approximately 60 departments) ever audited in the past 12 ½ years. Mickey was a vital part of the team that made this effort possible.

Mickey, who had a great love of family and friends, will be missed.

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