Law Enforcement
You Be The Judge On 8th Street
Tuesday morning the GUARDIAN watched over coffee at 8th Street just south of Bannock as an unsuspecting motorist fell victim to the heartless Boise Parking machine. The guy carefully backed into a parking spot behind a beer truck. He aligned his shiny black car within the lines, exited his vehicle and confronted the meter. A […]
ACHD Commish Weighs In On Parking
ACHD Commish Rebecca Arnold, stressing her comments are her own opinion and not that of the ACHD board, sent a letter to the Boise City Council to be read at Tuesday’s public hearing. She claims a local developer wants the rate hike to benefit a private parking structure he wants to build. The GUARDIAN offers […]
Boise Coppers Stung And Sweaty During Rescue Attempt
Here is an interesting little backstory on the tragic drowning Saturday in the Boise River and the copper who was treated for heat stroke as a result of the hot response. Chief Mike Masterson says, “We are extremely proud of the officers who responded. I’m told the updates from dispatch to officers included emotional appeals […]
Council Should Act Responsibly On Drinking Ordinance
Boise officials from the police chief to the Parks Board are on the right track when it comes to backing an ordinance aimed at allowing football fans to wash down their tailgate cuisine with their favorite beverage. The GUARDIAN is concerned about “equal protection” under the law. The proposed ordinance would allow consumption of alcohol […]
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 […]
ISP Top Copper Writes First Ticket In 11 Years
A young Owyhee County driver has earned a distinction he would probably rather not own. His 70 mph run through a 35 mph chip seal construction zone, including passing Idaho State Police Col. Ralph Powell, prompted Powell to issue the first citation he has written in 11 years. The ISP boss was on Highway 78 […]
Cop Cars: How Many How Much?
OPEN LETTER TO THE BOISE MAYOR AND COUNCIL Dear Mayor and Council, With the Boise City budget pending final approval and police union negotiations approaching, we thought it was a public benefit to check on the Boise Police vehicle fleet and the “take home car” policy. The police budget accounts for 34% of the entire […]
Everything Old Is New Again
Proving that “everything old is new again,” Boise coppers will wear new badges (which look 106 years old) for the month of July to celebrate the city’s sesquicentennial…then coppers can purchase the shields as souvenirs. Look for any extra or unsold shields to be sold or auctioned for police-related community causes like Crime Stoppers or […]
Prisons Need To Be Government Operated
The move by the Idaho Board of Corrections to dump the private contractor running part of the prison system is good, but it only goes half way. Idaho Department of Correction won’t be allowed to submit its own bid or take over operations at the prison south of Boise, because Board of Correction Chairwoman Robin […]
Iron Man Good For Some Businesses, Traffic Nightmare
Several tales of “you can’t get there from here” over road closures due to the Iron Man event Saturday have reached the GUARDIAN. We would like to hear your take on it. Anything from delayed trips to the market, increased business at your restaurant or hotel, to cost for coppers. Who benefits, who suffers? Are […]
Reader: Motorcyclists Should Pay $40, Forget The Ride
GUARDIAN reader Erico49 sent us a self-described rant today after a weekend of hearing Rolling Thunder along Interstate 84. He also sent a copy to the Idaho Transportation Department. “I question whether it’s a good idea to slow down traffic on the Interstate for 50 miles twice in one day with a caravan of motorcycles–regardless […]
Panhandling Ordinance Put On “Hold,” God Bless
When Boise City announced plans to enact a couple of “canned ordinances” approved by a national cities organization in an effort to curb panhandling, the GUARDIAN raised questions about UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. For instance, if it is illegal for someone to stand on the curb and hold a sign saying “Anything Helps God Bless,” it would […]
Panhandling Ordinances: Anything Helps, God Bless
Boise’s city fathers and mothers are once again grappling with how to “get the bums off the streets.” (no political correct notes please) Tuesday the councilors will discuss three proposed ordinances which are wrought with definitions and circumstances bound to cause confrontation, diverse interpretation and enforcement. Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance: prohibiting solicitation of money from motorists […]
Unlimited Fish at Little Camas
Idaho Fish and Game on Monday issued a salvage order for the Little Camas Reservoir in Elmore County. The reservoir will likely be drained by early summer for irrigation. Because the game fish in the reservoir likely will be lost, and past efforts at salvaging fish have been futile, Fish and Game would like the […]
No Drunks Or Walk-Ins At Detox Center
While working on a story about Boise’s relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous, we learned Boise’s Detox Center is not what it was cracked up to be. The facility may be well intended, save money for the hospitals, and provide services to some of those in need. It doesn’t fill the role it was touted as filling. […]
AA Faces 300,000% Rent Hike In Historic Fire Station
The local Grapevine Club of Alcoholics Anonymous is facing a 3000% increase in rent for its meeting and clubhouse space at 1518 W. Fort St. For more than 60 years Boise City has leased the facility for $1 a year. As of May 1, the City is demanding a monthly rent of $300, waiving rent […]
ISP Lt. Colonel “Sprouts Wings”
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Powell has sprouted wings as the new “Bird Colonel” for the Idaho State Police. The promotion by Gov. Butch Otter puts the career trooper/bird colonel at the top of the pecking order for ISP where he has served throughout Idaho including posts in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and eastern Idaho. Most recently he […]
Lawmen Circle The Wagons In Anticipation Of Criminal Charges
Police and prosecutors are circling the wagons in anticipation of indictments against local coppers in the near future. The IDAHO STATESMAN ran a big rehash Sunday of the story posted last June by the GUARDIAN about the demise of Robert Berrier’s career in law enforcement following a forced resignation for sexual misconduct with a drug […]
Trigger Happy Coppers Tarnish The LAPD Badge
No two ways about it–The Los Angeles copper who is on a murder rampage is WRONG. There is never any justification for killing just because someone may have done you wrong or pose a potential threat. That said, we are really concerned about the glossing over of the obvious “hit squad” mentality of the LAPD. […]
Don’t Bring Gun To a Knife Fight
A Nampa man armed with a pistola bravely confronted a stranger in his friend’s back yard Wednesday night and like all too many weapon wielders ended up getting shot with his own gun AND stabbed. Coppers say it’s unclear who actually fired, but the stranger fled the scene following a scuffle. The take away: “When […]
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