Sheriff responds to criticism of deputy rewards

BONNERS FERRY — Claims on social media that the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office has quotas for arrests or infractions are incorrect, BCSO Sheriff Dave Kramer said in response to backlash over new deputy awards.

In late December, BCSO Patrol Sgt. Mike Valenzuela announced a Deputy Award program available to patrol deputies which would include awards for DUI Deputy of the Year, Narcotics Deputy of the Year, and Top Cop. 

The email circulated across social media with accusations that the BCSO was shifting to a quota-based system. 

BCSO Dave Kramer said the sheriff’s office has never had quotas for arrests or infractions. He said the award program is not a quota system, but rather a way to increase deputy camaraderie, productivity and positive engagement with the public. 

Deputies do not have direct supervision and are more than traffic officers, he said, noting deputies respond to service calls along with additional duties. 

When it comes to citations or arrests, Kramer said the BCSO receives no financial incentives, rather these duties are strictly what BCSO does to protect the community. 

“The concept was for deputies to receive recognition for the most DUIs (driving under the influence) arrests and for the highest number of drug-related arrests,” Kramer announced in a press release. “The Top Cop award would have been given to a deputy in consideration of those statistics as well as their community involvement, involvement with law enforcement related programs or activities and their overall productivity. In other words, it would be the deputy who does the most for our community. The award for being our Top Cop would be the pride in being recognized for doing an exceptional job and a priority pick for the upcoming year’s schedule.” 

Law enforcement is supposed to protect and serve, which includes making sure those driving under the influence do not cause harm to property or others on the road is part of the job. 

In 2022, every 3.3 days someone in Idaho died in a car crash relating to a DUI, Kramer said. He added that DUIs also include individuals under the influence of drugs, which is something community members do not always take into account. 

In his years of law enforcement and past volunteering with the ambulance districts, Kramer has seen with others the impact a fatal crash has on the community and families. 

“My deepest regret has been when we receive a call of a drunk driver and are unable to catch them before they hit someone,” he said. 

In regard to the awards, Kramer said the general idea proposed by Valenzuela was a way to bring camaraderie to the department. 

Major criminals have been caught on routine traffic stops, Kramer said. Recently, a Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office traffic stop yielded approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills and about 1 pound of methamphetamine, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia. 

Kramer said these awards will not take deputies out of the county roads and onto the highways, rather BSCO is encouraging community involvement as well through the Top Cop award, although “misinformation” spread online claimed otherwise. 

There was never a mention of any type of “quota” or citations, Kramer wrote in a press release. Specific traffic enforcement, other than DUIs, were never a criteria and absolutely no consideration was ever given to any financial or budgetary benefit.

Unfortunately, negative discussions were started by several people claiming to be looking out for the good of the community, without having all the information about the program, he said. 

“I believe that positive encouragement for deputies to make our roads safer, taking dangerous drugs off our streets, and interacting positively with our community benefits Boundary County,” Kramer said. 

The DUI and Narcotics Deputy of the Year will be statistic-driven and given to the deputies with the most arrests and charges filed. 

Kramer said deputies may be working cases together with the aim of getting a major drug bust. 

“We want partnerships and well-rounded deputies serving the community,” Kramer said.

There is so much negativity in the world, he said, and the awards are intended to show Deputies they are appreciated and recognize their accomplishments.

“It’s basically a pat on the back recognizing that we see what they are doing,” Kramer said. 

The Top Cop award will be based on community involvement, department involvement, programs involved with statistics, and overall most well-rounded officer. This award will be voted on by all patrol and collateral assignment deputies, with patrol, corporals, detectives and school resource officers eligible. Voting would occur in mid-November and the winners will be announced at the department’s Christmas party. 

The prize for the Top Cop award will have the privilege of choosing their work schedule the following year. 

Kramer said the requirements for the awards are still being fine-tuned and the email distributed online only showed the preliminary announcement of the program to patrol deputies.