The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
43°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Cda In Line For Isp Help, Law Official Says Request For 3 New Officers Statewide Cut To 1, But Approval Likely

By Betsy Z. Russell betsyr@spokesman.com(208) 336-2854

Coeur d’Alene could get one more Idaho State Police officer next year.

Bob Sobba, director of the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement, told the Legislature’s budget committee Monday that if he gets just one more officer, he’ll assign him or her to Coeur d’Alene.

“They’re short up there,” Sobba said. Plus, he said, “We have a lot more calls for service in that area than we do in others.”

That may be due to the proximity of Spokane, the resort atmosphere, or even in small part to the presence of extremist groups, Sobba said.

The Coeur d’Alene region of the Idaho State Police, which includes all five counties of the Panhandle, has 28 ISP officers now, along with three sergeants, one lieutenant and one captain.

Sobba, in his budget request for next year, requested three more officers statewide. Gov. Phil Batt cut that request to one officer in his proposed budget.

Sobba said he’s reasonably confident that the one new officer will be approved.

“The governor and JFAC (the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee) have always been very supportive of law enforcement,” he said after his budget pitch to the committee. “They have a lot of tough decisions to make, and we’ll live with whatever they decide.”

The department’s top priority for the coming year is its crime lab, where the state hopes to be able to perform DNA tests. Idaho is one of just seven states that can’t perform the tests, which means it doesn’t have access to a national database to help solve crimes through the use of DNA samples.

The department is pushing separate legislation to allow the state to take DNA samples from convicted criminals, for use in both state and national databases.

The governor agreed with the $86,300 funding request for a criminalist to do DNA testing and to cover equipment.

The department had requested $252,700 to hire and equip three new ISP officers. The governor instead recommended $84,300 for one officer and equipment.

, DataTimes