Maybe it’s time to let the Sheriff police Boise City (and Garden City). An elected sheriff is responsible to the ultimate commission–the voters. Although with the pitiful turnout for municipal elections, maybe not.

Guardian, I agree. The police need to be supervised, no matter how difficult it may appear. The current chief has curbed most of the abuses of the past, but……

Any appearance of militarization needs to be stopped.

The police also need fewer laws to enforce. Decriminalize pot and deregulate alcoholic beverages would be a good start.

Why yet another commission? A good Ombudsman is all we can afford and another commission just makes for more big government, costing us payers lots more.

I’m rapidly becoming a stop big guvmint advocate. Our state income taxes are already unfair and too high and bigger govt. just adds to the pain——– and contempt.

EDITOR NOTE–No extra cost. Citizen volunteers serve on all the commissions for free.

Tuesday’s cop car crash downtown is a good example of why community oversight of police policies and procedures is a good idea. A witness indicated that there were lights on the police vehicle, but no siren. I hope this event is not swept under the rug and am thankful that nobody was seriously hurt.

Mr. Murphy did a very good job. I didn’t always agree with his findings, but I feel he was fair and most certainly thorough. He’ll be a hard act to follow, but either his position must be filled or better yet, a public services commission be set up to keep a close eye on ALL the city and county’s emergency agencies.

Are you kidding me. READ THE ARTICLE!!!! This is a no win situation in this town. Your upset that someone parked in front of your house while your house is being burglarized. This city deserves what it is going to get. So long.

Been gone awhile, but its time again. Really, this latest “investigation” found that a supervisor was “disrespectful” to a drunk who had been passed out on steps somewhere, and made a totally bogus complaint against an officer. The supervisor didn’t swear at him, nor threaten him. He told him a fact, you can be charged with making a false police report if you file a complaint that is found to be totally not factual, or in this case, a lie. from what I read, the supervisor did his job, did a report to internal affairs, and god like Pierce Murphy didn’t like his verbage to him, so he decides it is not right. I think Murphy just wanted one more “see I told you so” before he left!

EDITOR NOTE–You are missing the point here, Lewis. The super is on tape telling the guy, “”We’re done. We’re not listening to you. Not listening to you. Go to jail.” Neither Murphy or your chief believe there was any improper use of force.

The error was the treatment of the drunk. Your boss said, “The interaction with (the suspect) by the supervisor did not meet the standards we expect and that we train for. This is why the audit process is in place. I appreciate (Murphy’s) office reviewing these reports, and although discrepancies are found in a very small percentage, it reinforces the value of these audits.”

The super was just like some of the haters who post here claiming all coppers are liars. Difference is those folks can’t send you to jail for littering. Don’t know how long you’ve been around, but I remember a Boise copper not listening to a couple of girls who reported a rape or attempt along the greenbelt. The copper gave the same “false report” warning to the girls and ignored them. The next victim was murdered and stuffed into a farm sewage lagoon. Cases like that one are why we got the ombudsman in the first place. The take away lesson: LISTEN!

To answer Blaskowitz: A while ago, the cops killed a guy who was holed up in a crawl space and brandishing a soldering gun, yes, a soldering gun. Then there was the time the cops killed a teenager in his front yard with his father watching. The father had called the cops for help because he couldn’t control the kid and the kid had some kind of antique .22 rifle. (thanks for the “help”) Then there was the time the cops chased a guy down the connector and got him stopped at Broadway and Myrtle and killed him while using up about a gazillion rounds of ammo. Then there was the time the cops had a wild shootout with two rednecks from Pennsylvania somewhere near 15th and Idaho. I can’t recall any such incidents under the new chief.

About Pierce Murphy: he seems to be a nice guy but generally sided with the cops in his reports (I have read several of them, but not recently). He usually sided with the cops but would recommend additional training (I suppose to appear fair and balanced).

The problem with commissions is the Mayor appoints them and the city council approves them. If anyone gets out of line their term of office is one term appointment. It takes a period of time to get up to speed with policy and procedures as well as knowing people on the force.

I don’t have any knowledge of Police Commissioners but it looks like a thankless job.

I can relate to the prior’s that Rod in SE mentions. There was a great deal of make-up on these situations and particularly of the kid shot down.

Meridian isn’t any better as there was a youngman whom the family called for help. He was shot down. Two reports had conflicting stories the officers provide how I new the family and knew what really happened. Reports can only work with what is provided to them however some one has to clean house with these police departments as situations all vary but I think each officer should carry a tape recorder that can’t be ‘adjusted’ when they make up their reports. It’s a political family and they do cover themselves but there are internal issues we can’t know about. Many good intended officers have left due to this. Ada County Sheriff’s office is the same as they create situations that do not need to be. Then we wonder why our prisons are so Overstocked. Hello world. I’ve read so many bogus reports from witnessing situations over the years.

Crupels. One older officer I spoke with a few years past said he believed the violence of officers was due to many L.A. officers transfering here and being more aggressive in suituations. He was actually black balled from younger officers (Meridian) whom contradicted his own statements.

We are putting camera’s up all over town but what needs to happen is make sure they aren’t tampered with and in place to make sure they do what is meant to be peaking of Funding. They do this on the streets to issue traffic tickets in the mail.
We seriously need an Unbias board none associated individuals whom have nothing to gain with an either or situation but see it as it is or was.

Idaho Deparment of Corrections is in the same horrific situation – there can not be any profit associated with placing judgements when it’s associated with Legal matters.

Cops are not lawyers editor… and are often wrong interpreting law… which is why we need a pannel in the first place. I’d suggest a criminal practice lawyer on the pannel to interpret the law. If the pannel becomes too big however it becomes too slow.

Dave this has been needed for years, one person should not have this power.

Officer Lewis, yes we think some people are worthy, unfortunately with the attitude you are espousing I would say you are not one.

Remember this, LE are public servants that should have public oversight and supervision. Unfortunately this is not the standard in the LE industry.

Deb does have a very valid point. There are way too many (former) members of the Cali LE industry working in this valley. Unfortunately the BCC attitude that has come here with them will not fly here. A point that it seems BPD in particular is incapable of understanding. The LE industry is completely out of control and there seems to be an attempt to gain absolute power and we all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I can agree with you that there needs to be a liaison from the LE industry involved in the process. I would suggest that the person be a member of senior staff. They would be charged with explaining dept. policy in certain situations but would have NO vote in any decisions.
The oversight “commission” should have power to sanction offenders (cops) and also effect policy changes dept. wide. Lets face it, just because something is done IAW with policy doesn’t always make it right, legal and right are not synonymous.

Rod the reason the ombudsman was originally designated was because of the rash of shootings in the 97-98 time frame..not because of the issues you mentioned. But I misinterpreted your original posting. I thought you were saying the Chief had cleaned up the problems with BPD.

Deb

They all do wear recorders and the recordings are transcribed by a secretary and then erased at least according to Det. Chuck Albanese, BPD recruiter. Has no one really questioned why the public is harassed when trying to record or take pictures of any police actions? If their version is the only one out there it’s rather hard to dispute.

Rod you are very accurate in that the public sees anyone arrested by the LE industry as guilty… if they weren’t guilty LE wouldn’t arrest them. If only that belief was even remotely correct.

I will say again the LE industry has NO oversight, they make policy and enforce it as they see fit. LE needs adult supervision, the courts do not provide it, the legislature can not be bothered and unfortunately if the people demand it… well that will not be allowed.

It is very needed in many ways. Any individual whom is approached by any officer whether it be on the road or your home and whom does not have a witness nor tape recorder with them at the moment can be toast in a court room if they feel they have been wrong.
I personally have not had issues personally but am fully aware of many whom have and recommend each individual also carry a note pad within their vehicles.
This is especially important if the indiviual had any priors as they are open bate toward allegations. Even they need a means to take their situations.

Thanks Chief, Overall I’m happy with local coppers… but know the coppers need watching so it does not evolve into a copper’s come first and the public last kinda department.

What do you think of the Murphy replacement situation?

And do you think we’ll ever be able to access the NSA recordings of all communications for criminal cases?

Also, are the cell phone coversations, which have become the officer’s primary link to the public and often other officers,… are these cell phone calls also recorded?

Dave’s right , there is no policy as long as it doesn’t obstruct an investigation. It’s not a simple answer based on the totality of the circumstances invovled. If a person standing on a sidewalk wants to run a video of an officer making an arrest,it’s entirely legal. But, if that same person walks into the street and insists on standing next to the officer while they are struggling and attempting to arrest for the purpose of videotaping the arrest and was warned to stand on the sidewalk and refused to comply, yes they could be arrested. Regarding a citizen taking pictures, don’t be offended but when a citizen complains of someone taking a picture of them we generally investigate to make sure it’s legal behavior. You may be taking photos of planes landing at the airport and a citizen calls in a suspicious person and yes we would generally respond and ask for an explanation. What happens when it’s your 17 year old daughter downtown with a friend and they observe a man taking their pictures, not once but several times? Yes, we investigate.

Our recording policy is presumed to be face to face, in person so cell phone calls generally are not recorded. (We dont provide the equipment to do so)except for sgts on their desk lines for conversations with complainants etc. We generally dont see disputes with victim statements as we are driving to calls but when dealing with complainants it’s another matter. It’s a fact, digital audio recordings do tend to exonerate officers in the overwhelming majority of times.

As for the future of the Ombudsman, that decision will be with elected officials with many of the comments offered by readers pro and con,being taken into account. Hope this information helps.

EDITOR NOTE–HEre is a timely news report from Detroit. http://www.policeone.com/officer-misconduct-internal-affairs/articles/6324906-Detroit-IA-unit-investigating-arrest-of-photographer/

What’s the law on this around here, and how does the public search their record to see who searched their record?

http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/215707711.html

tom, as new technology arrives each day that enhances our ability to make our communities safer , i”m in favor. Whether it’s recovering stolen cars, apprehending a susect on an amber alert and safety recovering the vicitms or locating violent fugitives, all based on a license plate, are legitimate intersts of law enforcement. We used a loaned vehicle with plate reader technology on a couple of occassions about five years ago for a short period of time. We entered in all of our stolen car plates. Proved to be so ineffective for us in Boise (because of so few stolen cars) it was never offered again. We have not used the technology since nor do we have plans in the future for it.

I agree with setting the rules. While I want to utilize technology to the fullest extent possible in the 8 hours i perform this job; the other 16 hours i spend as a regular citizen i dont want an overbearing , intrusive government in my personal life. There needs to be rules and if police agencies using this technology can’t police themselves then someone else will…be it Congress or the courts. Hope that helps.

Use the plate readers to cross refference those with/without insurance… would save us all money on car insurance.