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New police chief outlines priorities as traffic‑stop numbers fall amid funding shortfalls
Summary
Chief Haley, in his first week as Rathdrum’s police chief, told the council enforcement numbers are down from last year mainly because grant funding for extra enforcement shifts was reduced; recruitment is underway with three candidates in background checks for three vacancies.
Chief Haley, seven days into the role, addressed the council about early priorities, data reporting improvements and staffing. He said he has begun ride‑alongs, is reorganizing how department statistics are presented to council, and is focused on a proactive presence in neighborhoods.
Council members questioned a substantial year‑over‑year drop in traffic stops; staff and council said reduced grant funding for extra enforcement shifts contributed to the decline and the department has been short‑staffed for several months. One councilmember contrasted nearly 700 traffic stops last year in a month to about 200 this year for the same month.
On recruitment, Chief Haley said the department received 14 applicants, six moved to oral boards, and three have advanced into background checks for three openings. If backgrounds clear, the department hopes those hires can start the police academy in January with field readiness later in the year.
Chief Haley said the department will provide more detailed, broken‑down statistics to the council moving forward. He also told the council that some recent reductions are attributable to attrition and the long timelines involved in hiring and training new officers.
Key quote: "We had 14 applicants ... 6 went to the oral boards and we moved forward 3 into background checks so that we have 3 current openings," Chief Haley said.
