As an Army veteran, Editor, I would think you and other veterans would be appalled by this violation and would have mentioned it. Thank you for your service, right? And now, you might see this as ample justification for Berkeley’s stance. There are lots of other examples. Oh right… OWG.

EDITOR NOTE–Not sure of your point here. Are you for or against the Berkley model of less traffic enforcement? One camp says coppers with guns going after minor violations sets the scene for confrontation.

The other side (including coppers) say it sets the stage for anarchy if motorists can simply drive away and ignore traffic laws.

1) Do not shoot first.
2) De-escalate at all times.
3) You were ‘scared’ is not an excuse
4) Only 1 (up to 3) designated shooter in hostile cases. Put your guns away yahoos.
5) Speed chases are coordinate with an emergency helo
6) Create an emergency helo unit
7) No MRAPs
8) Blue uniforms and vehicle not black (dark navy m.a.)
9) No butt tasering.
10) Friendly community policing- no aholes, no steroids, no racists allowed.

Am I nominated????

I agree with concerned Our BPD can’t even enforce the rules of the road?! As outpaced growth continues, I find our streets more dangerous from the lack of drivers following the rules of the road!

The BPD getting publicity for educating drivers vs. enforcing codes with the hands free LAW! They can’t even enforce license plates on the front bumper of Idaho registered cars? Isn’t there a code for that? As petty a thing to mention those drivers are the ones speeding, going thru stop signs, red lights? Maybe the newcomers are those the BPD is PROTECTING while SERVING their unions?
Surely the BPD can’t be surprised with lack of respect from those paying their wage?

I believe most to all Boiseans use our streets for driving, riding, walking so I don’t think it is asking to much to LEAD The way to make them safe!

Again it might be a petty example of how the BPD works or doesn’t. Depending how you look at it.

EDITOR NOTE–Be thankful for what we have. Here is a peek at what is becoming a national issue among coppers.

https://www.berkeleyside.com/2021/02/24/berkeley-police-reform-traffic-stops-racial-disparities

EDITOR NOTE–I was on a committee 40 years ago to create a countywide fire district and there was so much pushback that it didn’t have a chance. Too many pay scales, insurance ratings, response times, jurisdictions, areas with no tax base, etc. Like schools, everyone wanted their own district and firefighters. For context, that was about when we got ACHD and Ada County EMS.
–Dave

I count an average of 1 car running a red light at every intersection now. A group of teens chased off a family at a park near me. Homeless beggars are getting more aggressive. I saw someone pepper sprayed on Overland and it never hit the news, probably not even reported.

I’ve been to every state and worked in a couple dozen large cities. The direction that Boise is headed is both obvious and destructive. I’ve already started contemplating where to move to get out.

If the Guardian was as dogged against the BPD (the biggest city department- ought to be the biggest portion of Guardian coverage and critique) as it is against creative financing, perhaps BPD would already have a Police Commission.

EDITOR NOTE 4/29/21–Today three finalists for appointment to the Idaho Supreme Court were announced. The legacy media identified all three as female. They also failed to note gender of those who were not selected as finalists. Also noted President Biden made special note during speech that both the Speaker and Vice President were female.

The rest of your examples are bureaucracy. They may make the public happier with its government because they create a veneer of public participation but I doubt those commissions make their departments run meaningfully better.

Also, to clarify, my recollection is that parks and the airport are both bigger than police. Not that it matters, however, because I disagree with you that the size of a city department is the test for whether it needs a commission. The test is whether a commission would help or hinder that department in its mission.

I agree with Caeth that adding a commission to the current system would just be adding another layer of bureaucracy and inefficiency. Isolated incidents aside, I am happy with BPD and I don’t see why we should restructure a system that’s currently giving us good results.

EDITOR NOTE–Given your position on an “added layer,” would you favor abolishing the library board, park board, airport commission, P&Z? If we don’t need citizen participation in the biggest city department, why have citizens involved in the smaller depts.?