Top cop to work from Iraq

UCON, Idaho – A southeastern Idaho police chief plans to continue managing the agency despite being deployed to Iraq this fall with the Idaho National Guard.

“I’m going to handle the chief administrative details while I’m away,” Ucon police Chief James Walker told the Idaho Falls Post Register. “It keeps me in the loop and not in the blind when I return.”

Walker in September is scheduled to head to the Middle East on a yearlong special security mission with Idaho’s 116th Heavy Brigade combat team. It will be his fifth deployment.

But the town’s police department has only one employee – Walker – who does everything from patrolling, applying for grant money, and sometimes even painting curbs.

Ucon Mayor David Blain said the city asked the military to grant Walker a deferment, but the request was denied.

Jake Fullmer will be Walker’s temporary replacement.

He’s “right out of school and doesn’t have that experience,” said Blain. “That’s the trade-off.”

Blain said the city will get help from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.