Sheriff checking off plenty on to-do list

BONNERS FERRY — Since Sheriff Dave Kramer was sworn in on Jan. 9, he has made good on many of his campaign promises.

With a long history of being involved with volunteer organizations, both directly and indirectly, Kramer believes in the power of volunteer organizations. He established the Boundary County Sheriff’s Support Unit, using volunteers with specialized skills in a variety of areas.

“I have several retired law enforcement officers with years and years of experience,” Kramer said about his volunteer unit. “There is a depth of experience from these retired officers.”

With the aid of these volunteers, they have been able to reexamine some cold cases, old homicides that occurred within the county. The volunteers bring fresh eyes combined with advances in technology that aid the ability to re-examine evidence.

Another group of volunteers is once again building a neighborhood watch program in our county.

“We will be getting out some press releases on things people can do to help protect their property and not become a victim,” Kramer said.

Volunteers with backgrounds in construction are completing a new wall in the Sheriff’s office. The wall adds extra security for the dispatch center, as well as keeping the public safe and separate from prisoners being transported between the jail and courthouse. It also allows officers to secure their weapons when entering the jail and safely re-holster them before returning to the public.

“We have volunteers that have been helping us on some of our transports,” Kramer said.

Juveniles are held down in Bonner County at a juvenile detention facility, so they must be transported there, a job that used to require two detention deputies.

“Now we can send one detention deputy and one volunteer - saving the county money and providing a good service,” Kramer said.

“Most recently we had an emergency mental [case] that was a danger to themselves or others. We had to have someone watch them at the hospital until a bed space could be located,” Kramer said. Volunteers from the Sheriff’s Volunteer Support Unit took shifts and helped watch the person at the hospital overnight, then helped with transport when a bed became available in Lewiston.

Another promise made by Kramer is on its way to fruition. Improvements are under way in the jail facility, bringing it closer to being certified, a standard set by the Sheriff’s Association. Due in part to staffing levels and space limitations, the jail has not met those standards for several years.

“We are going down the list of the things that prevented us from meeting certification and seeing how we can accomplish that most cost effectively,” he said.

Among the improvements being made to the jail, Kramer is hoping to add an indoor exercise area and possibly a carport type structure inside the outdoor area. He is researching the most cost effective way to accomplish that goal.

Volunteers will also be used in a new program that takes those who have court-ordered community service, as well as inmate laborers, to help clean up the trash along roadways. The Volunteer Support Unit will aid in watching over the assembled crew.

Volunteers of the Sheriff Support Unit program are a continuing success. Kramer said he is “Very excited and proud of the people that are the volunteers on this group.”

Kramer has cross deputized the Bonners Ferry police officers, the Kootenai Tribal police officers, and Bonner County deputies to enhance cooperation between the local agencies.

“These are all individuals who are all Idaho certified officers that we work closely with us and it just makes sense,” states Kramer, “We have to be able to use these resources when we need to.”

Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler has also deputized all the Boundary County deputies.

“It’s a great partnership,” Kramer said. “Training is very important. Most all of our deputies, both patrol and detention, have received training in tactical medicine with Boundary Ambulance helping to instruct. We will continue with different training programs, making sure that the employees of the Sheriff’s office do get the training that’s needed.”

Kramer has also obtained some grants that enable all the patrol vehicles to be equipped with a trauma kit as well as individual first aid kits.

Kramer will be reactivating the marine program. Deputy Caleb Watts will attend a Marine Deputy Academy this spring. The program is not as much about law enforcement but more for education. They hope to install a couple of the free life jacket stations to set up along the Kootenai River.

“Since we started the dive team, we have had to dive and recover drowning victims,” Kramer said. “The more we can educate people on the power of the river and being responsible when you are on the water - that’s a win-win for everyone.”

several vehicles at the Sheriff’s Office will be declared as surplus. Kramer plans to cut down to just the vehicles that they need and can maintain. A prescription drug box has also been installed in the Sheriff’s Office, allowing people to safely dispose of their outdated or no longer needed prescription drugs.

“I’m proud of the men and women that work at the Sheriff’s Office. They really continue to step up to the plate and it’s my goal to continue to support them and do what I can to improve the jobs that they do, as far as making it easier on them,” Kramer said.