I would like to make an offer that should be hard to refuse: free access to be the new BOISE GUARDIAN.

After 18 years as editor, I, Dave Frazier have decided it is time to pass the GUARDIAN along to another journalist who would like to carry on the role of “guarding” the citizens rights by overseeing local government activities. It would be a great opportunity for aspiring journalists.

Over the years I have changed policy within Boise City departments which took advantage of citizen’s property for personal use, advocated for police oversight, revealed administration manipulation, and a whole lot more.

However, I simply don’t have the fire in my belly anymore. I am 78 and feel it’s time a younger crew takeover. I don’t want any money or control, just looking for a good honest person or group willing to have fun and keep tabs on government. Admittedly it is a “legacy thing” in part, but I promise my motivation is pure of heart.

The new person or persons are welcome to sell ads and set their own agenda for coverage. Ideally the new operator would be non-partisan, fair, and have a sense of humor…the April Fools spoofs are legendary. (see the archive)

SINCERELY,
DAVID R. FRAZIER

Jail bond missed by only a few votes. We advise sheriff and county officials to renew efforts to force the state of Idaho to take the daily 100 inmates that belong in the prison, but the state refuses to pick them up. The issue is NOT the super majority, it is the people of Ada County subsidizing the state.

KTVB-7 had the best coverage by far. Their crawler at the bottom of the TV screen kept folks informed of election results and reporters at key venues contributed to the evening’s information. They also did a nice job tracking results throughout their coverage area all the way to SE Idaho.

BOISEDEV had big boy coverage with a television-style anchor desk commenting and covering the races.

Secretary of State Phil McGrane made guest appearances with the media folks, including KTVB and BOISEDEV. Keep your eye on this guy he is looking like a valuable public asset for all Idaho.

The GUARDIAN has read all 19 affidavit pages detailing the probable cause for the arrest warrant of Bryan Kohberger, 28. With years of police-court reporting under the belt and sessions teaching coppers the ethical guidelines of crime reporting and release of information, we can offer nothing but admiration and praise for the conduct of this high profile case.

The degree of sophistication in handling the press gathered at Moscow was impressive. Not only the press conference style, but the use of a “media pool” allowing video and still images in the Latah County court room during his initial appearance averted a media frenzy. Pools are normally used in congressional and Presidential events. Typically a pool will grant access to single TV, radio, print, and wire services photographers and reporters. Media pools make all recordings and images available to all media.

While it may have seemed coy when police refused to answer reporter’s questions, we can now see they had a lot of info gathered from multiple agencies. Bottom line is there is little in our lives today that isn’t recorded or archived.

UPDATE 1/6/23–FBI had coppers stop suspect in Indiana to check for wounds on his hands, according to NY POST.
We offer a link below to the entire report which is fascinating reading. The affidavit was written by Brett Payne, a corporal with the Moscow Police Department (MPD) who has been with the department for about four years.

PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT

THE ALLEGED INCIDENT
Most of the reports from either confidential or anonymous sources
say Chief Lee attended a department shift “briefing” in the patrol division. Supposedly Lee demonstrated a “hands on” physical restraint on a Sergeant which resulted in some sort of neck injury.

POST INCIDENT EVENTS
This is were the actions of those involved get a bit murky and frankly don’t serve to lend confidence and trust in our city mothers and fathers who pledge to be transparent and manage our tax dollars and public servants.

Someone in authority, the police, city attorney, mayor’s office, or the sergeant decided the Idaho State Police needed to investigate. They would be an “outside agency,” but logically would investigate only a reported crime–in this case potentially battery.

When other media outlets queried ISP they were denied any information on an “ongoing investigation.” This served to confirm ISP was in fact involved in an investigation.

When KTVB sought information from the office of Mayor Lauren McLean they were told it was a “personnel matter” and no info was released other than a statement endorsing Chief Lee as serving with dignity and honor, adding no action from the Mayor was anticipated.

LEGAL ISSUES
The chief has lawyered up with Charles Peterson as legal counsel. A source told the GUARDIAN that Lee will pay for the legal fees. The sergeant has filed a workers compensation claim for an alleged neck or spinal injury. At issue will be whether the officer “volunteered” or not to be the subject of Lee’s tactical demonstration.

CONCLUSION AND ADVICE
The GUARDIAN questions the involvement of ISP in a “personnel matter” and it would appear from what we have heard for more than a month the incident has grown out of control, but there was no crime. If the sergeant was injured, he deserves to be compensated and treated for any injury. We have been told by reliable sources that he has been working normal shifts. Finally, commanders/supervisors should refrain from physical contact with subordinates, be they male or female.

INTERNAL STRIFE
Chief Lee comes from Portland and there has been noticeable grumbling from GUARDIAN readers and others on social media who are critical of the way police handled the riots, homeless, and crime there. Lee has told the GUARDIAN he came to Boise because he didn’t want to be a part of that situation in what he calls “that other city.” There is an element within Boise PD which is unhappy with the mayor’s choice of Lee and with Lee himself.

OUTSIDE INFLUENCE
Since his arrival in Boise, Lee has hired several lieutenants from Portland, a captain from Oakland, California and a deputy chief also from the Bay Area.

Turns out the local BPD officers won’t apply for the command positions because they make more money with overtime than lieutenants (who don’t get overtime). They would also lose their union membership and have additional responsibility if they made the switch to “management.” It is not uncommon for officers to earn in excess of $100,000.

With the advent of the internet, unlimited records access, and cell phone videos those guidelines have fallen by the wayside.

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean announced Monday that she asked Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts to allow the city to release the body camera video from each of the three recent officer-involved shootings. However, the prosecutor’s office said it would undermine the investigation and “constitutional due process.”

“Release of evidence, including on-body video footage, not only undermines the investigation of Ada County’s Critical Incident Taskforce, which is comprised of law enforcement agencies across Ada County and the Idaho State Police, but it also undermines constitutional due process and the Idaho ethical rules,” Bennetts wrote.

Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee is in an awkward position. He obviously agrees with McLean that body-cam video should be released to inform the public of the actions of his officers and the suspects. Those of us who lived here during the times of frequent police shootings know the damage that can happen to public trust in their police department when facts are unknown.

Chief Lee has to account to the mayor, the prosecutor, The Critical Incident Task Force, The new Office of Police Accountability (ombudsman), and the citizens. And don’t forget the police union. Each has a different authority and influence.

The GUARDIAN applauds the mayor and chief for their efforts to release the video. Even a brief video segment can dispel rumors, quell civil unrest, and show the transparency of the police. Nationwide police are releasing bodycam video in a timely fashion–especially when it helps their image.

Our confidential sources tell us in the North End case of the alleged kidnapping of a juvenile, the suspect was armed with a large knife which he refused to drop.

According to another source, the guy “squatting” on private property on N. 21st pointed a handgun at officers which looked like a .357, but turned out to be a BB gun. A still photo was eventually made public. We have no information on the third shooting where the suspect was said to have rammed police cruisers.

A GUARDIAN reader tells us they talked to a retailer who claimed to have a letter notifying them the legacy newspaper would soon cease delivering papers to the store. The reader took that to mean the paper was ceasing to publish. Whether true or not, the end is clearly near.

Both Salt Lake papers–Deseret News and Tribune–have gone digital except for a weekly weekend edition. The Statesman has been struggling for years. First they went through a rapid succession of owners, then abandoned their printing press. The Idaho Press printed it for a while, but then geared up and started covering Boise news. That forced the Statesman to find a printer in Twin Falls. Meanwhile owner McClatchy went bankrupt and the Boise staff has revolted over the firing of the managing editor.

Between having the pages and headlines created in Sacramento and the paper being printed in Twin Falls, the early deadlines precluded timely coverage of city council meetings and BSU sports.

Since the Statesman even sold its office on Curtis Road for a storage facility, we didn’t attempt to make the call to confirm the “folding” rumor. It is just a matter of time for the formerly great news institution to print its final edition. The transition to a digital product is clear to readers and staff alike.

GUARDIAN editor Dave Frazier said, “We need a free and vibrant press in Idaho and America. IF the rumor is true, the passing of the once-great newspaper would be a loss to all Idahoans.”

There just isn’t much we can discuss that hasn’t been covered by the legacy media as they talk to each other via the internet. We get the same press releases from the well paid government and don’t see any reason to duplicate the messages.

Stay safe and get your vaccine as soon as it is available and perhaps we can all join to debate something other than the use of masks and whether or not the presidential election was rigged.

Best wishes for 2021 to all!

“I was doing rewrite on the Statesman night desk and wrote up a short story with a photo from a staff lensman.

“Backlash came the next day when a reader called in to complain that I ruined the Santa story for her kids. Sorry.”

The following scenario is not a prediction, but a reality currently in place.

Day care businesses will diminish as parents stay home and work via internet/computers. Kids have guidance, no need for tax breaks for day care. Crime will be reduced with homeowners present.

Schools close and the need for food programs, diminishes along with the day care aspect. Energy costs and some wages will diminish.

Traffic is reduced to a mere trickle, parking fees diminish, fuel costs and pollution are reduced. Similar domino scenarios would apply to other disciplines.

City and county buildings are mostly closed. Revenues from traffic and parking tickets will be diminished.

A host of meetings and activities have been eliminated and when one stops and thinks, we are able to do without a whole bunch of services and material items.

Now for the debate part. Do we visit local restaurants to keep the staff and owners from going broke or do we stay away in droves for fear of spreading the virus?

“Social Distancing” has become a routine term. Dirty hands are subject to social shaming, and extending a “welcoming hand” is a sign of ignorance (better to touch toes, bump elbows, nod and say howdy).

Political or not, we simply fail to comprehend where the money will come from when it comes to BILLIONS of dollars to airlines, thousands to each individual. The wisdom of closing bars and restaurants in some states may make some sort of medical sense, but the economics escapes us.

Even advertising seems pointless in many cases. Who can buy a new car, bathroom remodel, or vacation when they are unemployed?

Don Day at BOISEDEV did a nice interview with incumbent Dave Bieter. Bieter refused to say if he would repeat his letter in support of former priest convicted on kiddy porn charges.

IDAHO PRESS reporter Margaret Carmel covered the City Club forum and offers her account of the action.