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Boise Needs Citywide Ombudsman
August 29, 2022 
The GUARDIAN has come to the conclusion we need to have a single ombudsman for all city departments to act on behalf of citizens when it comes to resolving minor disputes, providing access to knowledgable officials, and generally being a voice for citizens. Over the years we have seen a marked disconnect between citizens and […]
Boise Ombudsman Acting City Attorney
Unless Boise’s Team Dave has quietly appointed a new person to oversee police “critical incidents,” the current ombudsman will be in a position to both investigate and defend Boise coppers. Seems that Natalie Camacho Mendoza, the ombudsman, is also the interim Boise City Attorney, according to an e-mail notification sent to Fourth District Court. Camacho […]
Ombudsman Office Cut In Half After 2 year Vacancy
The office of the Community Ombudsman that did so much to restore community faith and pride in the police department has been reduced to a part-time position, it was announced today. No official word, but it is probably the only city department to have its staff cut in half in recent years. The new person […]
Use of Force And Ombudsman Complaints
BREAKING NEWS: A real estate blog has just named Boise the #8 safest city in America. Looks like coppers are #8 and Bronco footballers are #22! Due to the length of responses about Boise coppers as Chief Mike Masterson takes questions from readers in his last month of service, we will group the responses by […]
Ombudsman Low Priority For Boise Leaders
Despite repeated promises to hire an ombudsman to review “critical incidents” and other complaints within the Boise Police Department, Boise’s mayor and city council has been more concerned with squeezing 10 foot three inch buses into 10 foot traffic lanes. More than a year ago Councilor Maryanne Jordan told the GUARDIAN, “The position is important […]
Boise Council Fumbles Ombudsman Job
Almost a year ago on October 17, we inquired about the lack of oversight on Boise Police with the departure of the OMBUDSMAN in June 2013. Council President Maryanne Jordan told the GUARDIAN, “The position is important to the community. Next steps should be forthcoming shortly.” The next step apparently came in January of this […]
Ombudsman Job Description Conflicts With Code
Boise City is taking apps for an ombudsman six months after the first and only one, Pierce Murphy, left to clean up the Seattle PD. The job pays up to $95K, but there may be problems for the guy or gal who take the post. In a casual read it appears the job description doesn’t […]
News “Forthcoming” On Vacant Ombudsman Post
In the wake of the viral video of the lady copper confronting the camera-toting antagonist, the GUARDIAN has fielded several inquiries about the position of ombudsman for Boise. Council President Maryanne Jordan has told us, “The position is important to the community. Next steps should be forthcoming shortly.” The first and only ombudsman to oversee […]
Ombudsman Departure Signals Need For Police Commission
With the departure of Boise Police Ombudsman Pierce Murphy, citizens are left without an advocate who is not beholding to the coppers. Murphy is unique in that he made the rules for his job and ended up with a national rep for fair handed oversight of coppers. He has left for a similar post in […]
Private Eye, Former Boise Ombudsman Investigator To Probe Ada Commish-Dynamis Deal
Verna R. Kessler, a former investigator for the Boise Office of Ombudsman, has been assigned to the investigation of the Ada Commishes and Dynamis Energy. The “hot potato” investigation has been passed off from the Ada Sheriff, Ada Prosecutor, Attorney General, Bannock Sheriff, Boise Police, and now a private investigator. Perhaps the sixth time will […]
Report Raises Ombudsman Stock
The credibility of Boise’s Police Ombudsman, Pierce Murphy, has risen a few points with the long awaited report on the shooting of teenager Matthew Jones in December 2004. The report comes across as accurate, factual, and impartial. The conclusions and recommendations are well reasoned if not predictable. The response of Top Cop Mike Masterson are […]
Body Cam Video Of Shootings Should Be Released
Some 50 years ago, about the time the “Miranda Warning” became standard procedure, the GUARDIAN was working as the court-police reporter for the once dominant news venue, Idaho Statesman. In that capacity we joined with the courts and defense lawyers to forge the BENCH-BAR-PRESS ethical guidelines agreement. In a nutshell it was intended to insure […]
Boise STILL Needs A Police Commission
Each time there is a rash of high profile incidents involving police–either in Boise or nationally–there is a scramble to have some sort of oversight of the coppers. Back in the 1990s when Boise had a rash of officer involved shootings, a citizens group called for oversight and paid for a city councilor to attend […]
Police Oversight Is Akin To Insurance Policy
The GUARDIAN has long considered the Boise Office of Police Oversight (Ombudsman) as a representative of the citizens and an “insurance policy.” You hope you don’t need it, but glad it is there. After a series of “critical incidents” resulting in the death of a police officer and numerous suspects, the ombudsman office was established […]
Top Copper Creates Community Commission
The GUARDIAN has called for a POLICE COMMISSION for more than 20 years in Boise–most recently in July 2013. Today, Chief William Bones has announced the next best thing to a true police commission with his plans for a “Chief’s Advisory Council” comprised of Boise citizens. Hopefully, the group–yet to be selected–will be a cross […]
Holiday Greetings And Year End Review
We are not offended at “Merry Christmas,” and want to wish one to everyone. Also to those whose beliefs may not include Christmas, “Happy Holidays.” This is also the time of year when we review the past year’s offerings from the GUARDIAN and ask readers to share thoughts about best, worst, and most stories we […]
Office Of Police Oversight AWOL
Boise’s new Director of Police Oversight (ombudsman) has gotten off to a rocky start after failing to respond to the scene of a “critical incident” involving a police shooting near the Depot early this week. She told legacy media neither she nor an investigator responded. She said she is kept “apprised” of details. As we […]
Boise Election Campaign Repository
We will move this post up periodically and post new information from candidates as they send it our way. Either a message to CONTACT, a comment on a post, or to [email protected] will get candidate info to us. Judy Peavey-Derr The GUARDIAN has received several communications about a Boise day care rating system based upon […]
Civilian Oversight Of Coppers Still Missing
According to a well researched story in the DAILY PAPER by Sven Berg, Team Dave can’t seem to find an ombudsman to scrutinize Boise Police complaints. A woman from North Carolina had been offered the job, but after a background check, the job offer was rescinded. We have no problem with that, but it has […]
Listening For 10 Years, Chief Leaves Peaceful Legacy
Serving the citizens of Boise and changing the culture of the Boise Police has been a goal of retiring Chief Mike Masterson. When he took command of the local coppers, shootings by coppers and other critical incidents were out of control. Masterson’s management style has included big doses of LISTENING. He has been a frequent […]
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