CALDWELL, Idaho — Five current Caldwell police officers and one former officer are under investigation by Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for potential decertification, Caldwell Police Department Chief Rex Ingram confirmed to KTVB. The officers under investigation work in patrol and investigations.
The individuals are being investigated for allegedly violating policy but are not accused of criminal conduct, Ingram said. If the investigation finds any of the officers violated policy they could face discipline, termination or POST decertification.
A source with knowledge of the investigation told KTVB that at least one of the alleged policy violations has to do with an accusation of excessive force.
It is unclear if the allegations are related. Ingram tells KTVB the allegations vary and are confidential. Most came up during the ongoing FBI investigation into current and former Caldwell police officers, which so far has resulted in one officer being indicted on federal felony charges.
Amid this POST investigation, Ingram -- who was just appointed to the position earlier this month after the former chief retired -- said he chose to temporarily reassign the officers to non-enforcement duties. They are still working for the department but in different capacities.
"It's in the best interest of the department to have them be reassigned to protect the integrity of the investigation," Chief Ingram told KTVB over the phone on Monday.
Ingram says he pulled the officers off their duties because if the allegations are proven true and result in termination and de-certification, allowing them to continue working during the investigation opens the community and the agency up to more liability.
"Accountability was not always achieved in a timely manner prior to my appointment," Ingram said, noting the previous leadership allowed officer(s) to continue their normal duties during the FBI investigation.
Caldwell Police Department has 78 sworn officers, including the chief. Ingram says losing five officers from the field does hurt the department.
The chief says he also plans to hire an outside investigator to conduct an internal affairs investigation into the allegations, simultaneous to the Idaho POST investigation.
Ingram does not have any indication as to when this POST investigation will be complete. KTVB has reached out to POST to gain more insight into the nature of the investigation, but as of Monday afternoon had not received a response.
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