Blackmore joins city police department

BONNERS FERRY — Bonners Ferry Police Officer Brandon Blackmore joined the police department on May 21, after a long journey.

“I have always wanted to get into law enforcement from the time I was in high school,” said Blackmore.

Blackmore grew up in Creston, British Columbia, Canada, and came from a strict religious background.

“It was quite hard getting away from that,” said Blackmore. “Education wasn’t the best, but I learned a lot. I feel like it has helped me to become a better person.”

Although Blackmore is not from here, he fell in love with area many years ago. He and his wife had their first date here at Mugsy’s Tavern and Grill, and they stayed at the Log Inn. In 2016 his dream of living here came true when he and his family finally moved here.

“I’ve lived in several different places — southern Utah, Montana, Cranbrook area in British Columbia, but this has always been my choice of where I would want to live and raise my children, in this community and this county,” said Blackmore. “I thought it was an awesome and pretty place and I thought the people who lived here were really good people.”

Once the dream of living here was achieved, Blackmore set his sights on becoming a part of the law enforcement team, attending the academy in 2017 and graduating December 2017.

“I was hired by Sheriff Kramer at the Boundary County Jail and served a couple months there and then I was given the opportunity to take this job, which I took,” Blackmore explained. “I am very grateful to Sheriff Kramer and Chief Zimmerman for that opportunity and I hope that I won’t disappoint.”

“It has been quite a long journey, getting everything to line up just right, schooling and what-not and raising a family at the same time,” said Blackmore. “But I love it. It feels really worthwhile. I’m doing something that helps out the society and it is very fulfilling — doing it finally.”

Blackmore says that his goals are to do his part in making the community safer and to try to get drugs off the street.

“I am just really excited to be here and hope to gain more knowledge and training and be a bigger asset to the police department,” said Blackmore. “I’m just grateful to be here and hope to make a difference in some small way.”

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Brandon on board,” said Bonners Ferry Police Chief Brian Zimmerman. “He is going to be a great addition to the police department.”