Idaho POST is one of five states participating in a federal grant to fund a Community Policing Institute, the Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety (WRICOPS).

Links to WRICOPS information and news at Washington State University.

WRICOPS is a partnership of the following:

• Washington State Institute for Community Oriented Policing
• Wyoming Peace Officer Standards and Training
• South Dakota Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission
• Montana Peace Officer Standards and Training
• Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training
• Spokane COPS (Community Partner)
• Hughes County, South Dakota (Law Enforcement Partner)
• Crow Creek Tribe, South Dakota (Community Partner)

The mission of WRICOPS is to provide an integrated approach to the adoption of the community oriented policing and problem solving (COPPS) philosophy throughout the five-state region of Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming via three main components: Training, Technical Assistance, and Applied Research. Community Oriented Policing is the concept of people from different fields using problem solving exercises and hands-on training to address commonly encountered problems within the community. Open to law enforcement, local government and community members, COP and its related training courses allow for interaction and discussion among participants to accomplish specified goals.

WRICOPS Leaderhship CADRE in Idaho

• Vernon Alvarez, Chief, Fort Hall Tribal PD
• Greg Anderson, Mayor, City of Pocatello
• Pamela Babbit, Section Commander, Ada CSO
• Dave Bivens, Representative, State of Idaho
• Elaine Broyles, Director, Latah County Youth Services
• Patrick Calley, Sergeant, Ada CSO
• Robert Corrie, Mayor, City of Meridian
• James R Dahl, Retired Lt., Twin Falls CSO
• Tammy deWeerd, Councilwoman, Meridian City Council
• Diana Farthing, Mgt. Consultant, Alternatives to Violence in the Palouse
• Ronda Goebel, Moscow PD
• Dan Hally, Crime Prevention, Nez Perce Tribal PD
• Thomas Idol, Chief, Nez Perce Tribal PD
• Nancy Merrit, Council President, City of Eagle
• Michael O'Neill, Pastor, Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene
• Ed Parker, Chief, Garden City PD
• Larry Plott, Retired Director POST Academy
• Kristi Simmons, Business Owner, Marketing by Design
• Terry Tipton, Chief, Buhl PD
• Rick Viola, Sergeant, Mountain Home PD
• Rocky Watson, Sheriff, Kootenai CSO

The individuals listed above are the Idaho contingent of the assessment team. They have each undergone specialized training in conducting community assessments. WRICOPS may use them in any one of the five member states. Community assessments may take up to a week to complete, the leadership team are all volunteers and are not apid for time spent doing assessments or preparing their report to the agency. For information on WRICOPS in Idaho, e-mail Doug Graves.