Criminal investigators with the Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) work out of a designated division known as the Detectives Division. They investigate felonies, certain violent misdemeanors, and incidents that require additional investigation.
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The crime rate in Idaho Falls decreased from 2011 to 2012, but local detectives still investigated 26 cases of forcible rape and 100 cases of aggravated assault in 2012. These cases fall under the purview of detectives in the Crimes Against Persons unit. Robberies and child abuse are also included in the caseloads that these detectives manage.
Additional units with the Idaho Falls PD Detectives Division include:
- Property crimes
- Specialty investigations
- Evidence and Property Control
Becoming a Detective with the Idaho Falls Police Department
The members of the Detective Division are considered senior police officers and must be highly experienced to join the force. Applicants can also become detectives by joining the force as recruits and then working as police officers for several years.
Joining the Idaho Falls PD – There are two ways to join the IFPD at the level of detective. One is to meet the following education and experience requirements:
- A high school education
- Idaho POST peace officer certification
- Three years of experience as a police officer
An alternate way to become a detective with the Idaho Falls PD is to have an equivalent combination of education and experience. This can include having law enforcement experience along with some college coursework. Common fields of study for police officers include:
- Criminal justice
- Law enforcement
- Police science
Additional qualifications needed to obtain these jobs include having the following:
- A valid Idaho driver’s license
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain certification as an Idaho POST Advanced peace officer
Applicants are expected to have a range of knowledge relevant to advanced police work that includes the following:
- Modern law enforcement procedures, principles, equipment, and techniques
- Laws and ordinances: city, county, state, and federal
- UCR/IBR and NCIC codes and their proper application
- Emergency vehicle operation practices and procedures
- Specialized equipment (radar, radio, finger printing, camera)
- Evidence collection
- Classification of hazardous waste
- Courtroom procedure
- Investigative practices and procedures
- Arrests:
- Methods
- Legal liabilities
Advancing to Detective – New criminal investigators who do not have Advanced Training Certification obtain this at the Idaho State Police Training Complex in Meridian. The Advanced Training Class is a 14-week course of study that augments skills developed through POST Training.
To keep its officers up to date with their training, the IFPD requires all non-civilian employees to take part in at least 40-55 hours of training each year. This exceeds Idaho’s minimum requirement to maintain POST certification.
Officers also undergo a week of block training each year. This includes the following classes:
- Active shooter training
- Arrest techniques
- Review of city codes and state laws
Recent Investigations and Arrests Conducted by Idaho Falls Detectives
Within a several day period in May 2014, the IFPD arrested two individuals for felonies committed against 16-year-old girls. The cases developed as a result of tips to the police and a subsequent investigation by detectives in the Crimes Against Persons Unit.
One of the cases started with information that a man had recorded a girl while she was in the bathroom. The perpetrator was charged with felony injury to a child. The other case evolved from reports of a man repeatedly having sex with a 16 year old. He was charged with rape.