Police Union Says Magistrates Soft On Crime

The Boise police union is fighting re-election of two magistrates it labels soft on crime.

“We are asking voters to decide that they should go,” said union president Rod Sherfick. Fourth District Magistrates Michael McLaughlin and Thomas Morden are running for re-election.

It is unusual for the police union to publicly oppose their bids. Morden is on the ballot in Ada County. McLaughlin is a visiting magistrate who faces a vote in Elmore County.

The union takes issue with McLaughlin on returning suspended driver’s licenses to people refusing blood-alcohol breath tests. It charges McLaughlin’s rulings are telling drunk drivers it is smart to refuse a test.

McLaughlin said virtually all his suspended-license cases are settled in favor of law enforcement, either through a plea or a ruling. While the police believe judges should always rule in their favor, he said their job is to find the truth.

Morden has irritated Boise officers with the cases he has dismissed.

Morden said he was surprised by the union opposition, adding only about 1 percent of his cases are dismissed.

Sherfick said officers are “mature” enough to understand a weak case probably will be dismissed.

“But when they know they have a good case, and when they go into court and have the case dismissed, it’s almost like being called a liar. It’s an insult,” he said.