Chief of Police to step down Alonzo will continue to serve his community

Bonners Ferry Police Cheif Rick Alonzo will retire after the first of the year. 

However, he will continue to serve his community as an elected Bonners Ferry councilman.

A Washington native, Alonzo came to Idaho at age nine where his family settled in Priest River. 

He started working in the logging business as a young man however, because of the events surrounding the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, Alonzo decided to give three years of honorable service to his country in the United States Army.

Alonzo worked as a glazier in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry from 1973 until 1979. 

On July 28, 1979, he began his law enforcement career after being accepted as a reserve deputy sheriff for Boundary County. 

He had one of his most harrowing experiences while in this capacity. 

Sheriff's dispatch had received a call that an armed subject had taken a supervisor by surprise at the border and had stolen his firearm. 

The suspect then broke into a private residence and immediately became involved in a shootout with the homeowner.  The homeowner was wounded in the wrist and side, but was able to return fire with a small caliber weapon striking the subject in the chest. 

Alonzo was one of the first deputies to respond.  However, when he arrived the situation was apparently over.  

A life flight helicopter was called in to transport the wounded homeowner to Sacred Heart Hospital, and then it returned to also airlift the wounded subject to the hospital.

“I was assigned to escort this man to the hospital and to safeguard the bullet after it was removed during surgery for evidence,” said Alonzo. 

“As the wounded man was being loaded on the chopper the pilot asked me how much I weighed.  When I told him he said that I could not go on the flight as the helicopter had a full load of fuel and with the subject on board my added weight would put the helicopter over its limit.

 I was told that I would have to drive all the way to Spokane to retrieve the evidence.  It wasn't until I arrived at the hospital that I was informed that the helicopter had malfunctioned during flight and had crashed, killing all on board.  Someone or somebody was watching out for me that day.”

  Alonzo said while he was chief, he attempted to be fair with everyone, and had an open door policy for all people regardless of whether they wanted to sit down and talk, or just wanted to vent. 

He said it is going to be extremely hard to close this chapter of his life as he found great pride and satisfaction in service to the community.

“That's the main reason I decided to run for City Council, so I could continue my service to the community. Being retired I will have plenty of time to devote to the issues at hand or those that will be presented to me,” Alonso said.

When asked if there were any issues or concerns remaining as he retires as chief, he said the police department is down one officer, and that he would like to see the department come up to full strength. 

He also is concerned about who will be the new chief. 

Assistant chief of police Joel Minor will  be interim chief until a new chief is hired.

When asked what the community needs to do to survive and prosper, he said he is concerned by the number of Bonners Ferry residents who have left to work for Bakken in the oilfields of North Dakota.

“I feel this is a shame,” he said. “We need to find a way to keep our residents here with an opportunity to find good jobs in which to make a living and support their families.” 

He also is concerned about how to keep young people in Boundary County or how to bring them back after they finish college.

“I just want the people of Bonners Ferry to know what a great honor and privilege it has been to serve them as their chief of Police.  I will continue work hard and serve you as your Councilman. Thank you.”

It's not going to be all work for Chief Alonzo after he retires.

 “I'm looking forward to relaxing, doing a lot of boating, spending time with my wife, doing all those things on the house that I’ve put off, and of course enjoying my new best friend Molly B,” he said.