City Government
Boise Police Lt. Popped For DUI
June 1, 2022 
Following up on an anonymous tip, the GUARDIAN has confirmed that Boise police Lt. Steve Butler was arrested by Valley County Sheriff’s deputies over the Memorial Day weekend and cited for driving under the influence .
He was apparently involved in some sort of crash. Since the misdemeanor was not witnessed by the deputies, he was issued a citation and released until a future court date. A Valley deputy told us that is a common practice when an alleged misdemeanor is not witnessed by officers and there was no case of “professional courtesy.”
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Comments & Discussion
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© 2022 Boise Guardian. 
Jun 2, 2022, 6:14 am
How is it that we the citizens have to wait for a anonymous tip, to find out that our Leader of our town, is committing a crime, he is suppose to uphold the law? Is that not right when he is sworn in,? But yet because it was misdemeanor and not witnessed by another Law Enforcer, who I give you much thanks for, for not turning a blind eye as to whom this man was.
Thank you who turned him in! Props too you. Lord I hope they do not figure whom you are cuz you will be a target. That’s just life these days as it has BECOME.
It’s so sad that it has.i will probably be next for saying my two cents, I do hope that the judge you see does not throw your case out and that you Police Chief of Boise learn that just because you think you are above the law should be treated any differs.
God bless
Thank you
Jun 3, 2022, 8:14 am
I think a measured response is more appropriate. Everyone makes mistakes, even those we see in the mirror every morning. I’d be willing to bet Lt Steve Butler will agonize and truly learn from this mistake. Unlike so many Others that never do! Should he get a free pass..of course not. Nor should he be hung out to dry.
Jun 4, 2022, 7:55 pm
‘learn from this mistake’. How many non-police officers who get arrested for DUI. Will get this kid glove treatment?
Jun 9, 2022, 10:23 am
Couldn’t agree more with Night Trader. Cops are people, too. Should we expect more? Certainly. However, we all make mistakes in our personal life, and sometimes those reflect poorly on our employer. As long as due process and normal punishment (if found guilty) happens, I don’t see anything special here.
Jun 9, 2022, 10:55 am
I had employees make the same mistake who lost their job. They couldn’t perform their duties because of the zero tolerance of a CDL. Should a badge be more lenient?
Jun 9, 2022, 3:20 pm
Caeth…excellent point.
Jun 9, 2022, 10:05 pm
Caeth, you make an excellent point. However, rest assured that after a guilty finding the police department will then drop the administrative penalties. Time off without pay. Think of an additional fine. Potential disqualification for future advancement or transfer to another position. Could even be demoted. But it will all be a personnel matter so the public will never know what happened.
EDITOR NOTE– Harvey, you got it right. We cannot even learn whether or not Butler is on admin leave or working in his previous position as a command officer of BPD. Coppers simply refuse to let citizens know if the guy is working or not.
Jun 10, 2022, 2:01 pm
Life Hack: if you get arrested for DUI, you ARE doing something wrong. Might not actually be driving, or being drunk, or being impaired— but you are doing something wrong.
As for the “not witnessed” by officer- a current case in local media, and by law, a person may be parked (in a liquor store parking lot for example) and not driving at all, car is turned off, copper shows up– NEVER witnessed the drunk driver actually driving and yet the driver gets arrested.
The witness is the aftermath- ‘yo car is wrapped around a pole. You all alone standing on the road with a beer bottle in yo hand.’ Guess what happens when the cop shows up?
So, not so sure where this phantom ‘not witnessed’ comes in play.
Sounds fishy.
Paralegals????
EDITOR NOTE–Eastie Why do you always challenge the superior knowledge of the GUARDIAN? Here is an IDAHO SUPREME COURT link about the actual decision which dealt with a DUI case.
https://isc.idaho.gov/opinions/47865.pdf
Jun 10, 2022, 2:03 pm
JoJo, looks like the McGeachin nightmare didn’t happen- I recall a wager.
Maybe you treat the Editor with a cup of coffee (or a beer given this post) instead for a celebration toast for all of us? 🙂
Jun 12, 2022, 9:17 am
Easterner should read some case law. State V Clarke has changed the game for coppers in Idaho making misdemeanor arrests for crimes like DUI, domestic battery/assault, battery, NCO/PO violations. Be mad at the courts and legislature if you want to take your anger out on anyone.
Jun 13, 2022, 11:20 am
Thanks for the link Editor.
Yes, your ‘experience’ exceeds the knowledge of us modest readers.
That would be a March 2021 Idaho Court decision that reflects back on the 2019 Clarke case.
The 2021 decision is for a 2019 incident where the cop did exactly what my hypothetical example portrayed for my skepticism. The summary is, the perp was at home whipping up dinner by the time a copper caught up to her, based on a witness calling in the bad driving & license. The perp admitted to drinking before driving and failed BAC test- so she was arrested. Court says, “Nope. Not witnessed.”
Color me corrected.
My bad for not keeping up on ISSC decisions for the past 3 years. I’ll use Covid and lack of ample jury trials as my excuse. 😉
And so it is “common practice” as of the past 3 years?
ps. As noted, both of those decisions will make it more difficult for leos to actually enforce the law, and most awful for domestic violence situations.
So now my “Internet Law Degree” would suggest if 2 (drunk) people are caught in a car; as soon as it is pulled over, the 2 should both jump into the back seat, or jump out d’ car. An officer might have a tough time determining which person was WITNESSED driving. Pretty sure a citation is better than being arrested on the spot. :-/
What ya say, Quiet?
Jun 13, 2022, 3:01 pm
Easterner — one of the few bets I’ve lost I would gladly pay off. I consider the editor a friend, who I haven’t been able to catch up with for a bit. I’ll gladly buy him a coffee, and you whatever you would like if we catch up IRL. That work?
🙂
Jun 13, 2022, 3:44 pm
Holy cow! Our Chief of Police made his name by turning in two Portland cops who he supposedly witnessed beating up a guy who was in the bar. Does anyone know if the two fired Portland officers had a breathalyzer test coming out of the bar and after beating the guy up.?
I am being facetious.
Our justice system is screwed by the likes of Jim Jones, etc..
Jun 15, 2022, 3:38 pm
If ‘Bonnie’ means former Supreme Court justice and state Attorney General, she’s got her head too far up Trump.