[Vision2020] Blackwater Training of Police (in Coeur d'Alene) Opposed

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (June 13, 2008) Spokesman Review -

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Blackwater training of police opposed 
Local authorities prefer NIC proposal
Taryn Hecker 
Staff writer
June 13, 2008

The possibility of Blackwater USA partnering with Idaho's law enforcement 
academy to provide training in North Idaho sparked a small protest outside 
a Coeur d'Alene hotel Thursday.

Fewer than 10 people gathered outside the meeting room, opposed to 
Blackwater's presence in North Idaho based on its record in Iraq. Inside 
the meeting room, North Idaho's top cops also raised objections.

It's not just the idea of being associated with Blackwater – a 
controversial military contractor being investigated by the FBI and a 
federal grand jury for human rights violations – North Idaho law 
enforcement agencies say they've already pitched another proposal to the 
Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training council that is more viable.

Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said he approached the POST council 
earlier about teaming with North Idaho College to create a law enforcement 
training academy.

The college already has a law enforcement training program, Fuhr said, and 
the POST Academy based in Meridian is cutting back its offerings for 
patrol training.

POST won't offer another basic patrol academy until February, and Fuhr 
said law enforcement agencies with vacancies to fill can't wait that long 
to train their hires.

Fuhr and Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Wayne Longo were among the North Idaho 
agency heads surprised to learn POST Executive Director Jeff Black 
recently signed a letter of intent with Blackwater, even as North Idaho 
agencies worked to create their own training academy.

State Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, told the POST council Thursday that he, 
too, was shocked to learn Black signed a letter of intent with Blackwater 
to discuss the possibility of negotiation and agreement to lease space or 
work together.

Clark supports the concept of offering an academy through NIC.

"I read their (NIC) proposal," Clark said. "I thought it sounded good. I 
don't know why we're now looking around for something else."

Black said the issue boils down to complicated technicalities in the rules 
regarding police certification in Idaho.

NIC's program is designed for future police officers, those who have not 
yet been hired by an agency. Once they complete the program and find a 
job, they are certified police officers, without attending the POST 
Academy. But someone already hired by a law enforcement agency before 
earning certification must go through the POST Academy to get it. The NIC 
option is not available then. 

"I think it's time to look at changing the rules," Longo said.

Some suggested the rules could be temporarily suspended, allowing NIC and 
the agencies to move forward. Then the issue could be brought before the 
state Legislature next session.

The council voted to form a subcommittee to continue working on the NIC 
proposal while Black and POST staff continued research of their own.

Council members voted to table discussion of the letter of intent to work 
with Blackwater. Blackwater did not return calls seeking comment and an 
employee at Thursday's meeting declined comment.

Black said he approached Blackwater about working together. Blackwater is 
planning to build a "world-class training facility" in North Idaho, Black 
said.

It's a facility POST could never afford to build on its own, he said. 
Black said it's possible POST could lease space in the facility.

While Black said any agreement made to use the facility would simply be to 
use the space, others aren't so sure. The concern is that POST could 
strike a deal with Blackwater to provide the actual training.

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson said that was his understanding after 
speaking to Blackwater representatives. Watson said he was told the center 
would be built on 300-plus acres between Coeur d'Alene and Worley and the 
first phase of construction would cost more than $20 million.

The representative "made it very clear it was a military training 
facility," Watson said. He suggested Blackwater was trying to attach 
itself to local law enforcement in an attempt to make it easier to locate 
in North Idaho.

"As sheriff, I don't want my officers going to that facility just because 
of public perception," Watson said. "Our reputation is important to us. I 
don't know if Blackwater did everything that was reported in the media. 
They've now obtained the reputation."

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Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college 
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


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