The BPD Beat

Boise State Football is back at home tomorrow and today on the BPD Beat with host Sgt. Nielsen, former Bronco Linebacker and now BPD Officer Darren Lee joins us to talk about his time on the blue. And we have another BSU Alum turned BPD Lieutenant, Josiah Ransom, with his tips for fans heading to the game.  His number one reminder, head into the game early, before 7:30, and if you bring a bag, make sure it's clear.  We hope everyone has a fun and safe experience at the game. Go Broncos! https://www.cityofboise.org/news/police/2022/september/2022-bronco-game-day-reminders/

Last year the Boise Police Department expanded our Behavioral Health Response team, adding a second civilian mental health coordinator and a second officer to address the growing need for mental health services. On this episode of the BPD Beat, our newest Mental Health Coordinator Craig Laudicina, sat down with Officer Blake Slater to talk about his career with BPD and how it's lead to his current role with the BHRT.

September 11, 2001 is a day that we will never forget. 21 years later, we honor each of the innocent lives lost that day. On this week's episode you'll hear from two Army Veterans who work at BPD, host Sgt. Adam Nielsen and guest Laura Newell. They talk about their memories of that day 21 years ago, what prompted them to serve their country, and how their experiences in the military helps them connect with and serve the people who live, work and recreate in the City of Boise.  

Cpl. Joe Kane hosts the BPD Beat and first up for his podcast interviewing debut is Cpl. Sam Nesbitt, K9 Officer at the Boise Airport. Cpl. Nesbitt has a new K9 (whose name Cpl. Kane can't seem to remember) and he shares stories about their work searching for explosives at the airport, in Boise, and wherever else they are needed. 

School is back in session and so is the BPD Beat! On this episode guest host Sgt. Adam Nielsen sat down with Officer TyJuan Lynn, the School Resource Officer at Timberline High School. He talks about his job as an SRO, the many ways he connects with students (like coaching football), and the impact relationship building can have on students, parents and staff.

It's the end of a podcasting era here at BPD! After 29 years of service, Captain Bryngelson officially retires next week. For his very last episode, he asked his daughter Kylee to take over the podcasting studio so they could talk about his career, his favorite moments, and what he's looking forward to most in his retirement! And don't worry, The BPD Beat will go on. You can expect more episodes in the near future!

Police officers face an extraordinary amount of stress on the job, dealing with traumatic incidents much more often than the average person. But just like everyone else they also deal with day to day stressors in their lives. Wellness is important and we know that in order for our officers to best care for the people who live, work, and recreate in Boise, it's important that they also take good care of themselves. Sgt. Andreoli has been helping BPD in their mission to improve overall wellness. He sat down with Captain Bryngelson on this episode of “The BPD Beat” to talk about BPD's wellness program and the goal of creating a holistic approach to the biggest stressors impacting our sworn and professional staff.

We have a puppy in The BPD Beat studio this week and Captain Bryngelson couldn't be happier. Idaho Humane Society's Director of Animal Control Services Tiffany Shields and IHS Officer Ande Williams joined Bryngelson to talk about hot cars, animal control services, pet owner tips and adoption. Stay tuned until the end when Bryngelson asks Tiffany's newly adopted Mastiff pup Oakley for his thoughts on our weekly podcast.

Downtown Boise is an awesome place to work and recreate and the Boise Police Department is committed to keeping it that way. We have several teams of officers in the downtown core, our Night STEP team looking for drunk drivers, officers on foot helping out near the bars, and our patrol officers keeping an eye out for reckless drivers. They also address the area's biggest complaint, loud cars and speeding. In June officers made 158 traffic stops in the downtown core for a variety of reasons including excessive speed, exhaust and equipment violations. On this week's episode Sergeant Joe Martinez leads the downtown patrol team on weekend nights and he sat down with Captain Bryngelson to talk about the work they do on the graveyard shift to keep downtown drivers and pedestrians safe.  

Last month, the Boise Police Bomb Squad was called out to take care of four sticks of dynamite found in an area near Little Payette Lake. Among the responding officers, was Lt. Mike Hill, a longtime member of this specialized team. He sat down with Captain Bryngelson for this week's episode to talk about this explosive call, his background and expertise, the robot, the bomb suit, and what it takes to be a member of this important team. https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/police/join-bpd/

This summer the Boise Police Department hosted its first SHIELD Academy, which stands for Success, Helping, Innovation, Empowerment, Leadership, and Discovery. About 20 middle school students took part in this four-week program created by BPD and led by a group of School Resource Officers who helped recruit students to attend. On this week's episode, Captain Bryngelson was joined by one of those officers as well as two students who took part in the program. You'll hear about their many field trips to special spots all over the City of Boise and the fun team-building and life skill exercises they did with our officers over the last several weeks! Programs like this take a lot of time and effort. We want to say a  very special thank you to our community partners: Lowell Scott Middle School, Damsel in Defense, Boise Police Association, Boise PAL, Idaho Office for Refugees, Boise Bicycle Project, Jason Kremer, Gowen Field, David Gomez, Signature Roofing, Dutch Bros, Deontrae Cooper, BSU Football, Jan Poppenga, Kam & Roger Neth, Photography by Kam, Braaap Suspension, Wassmuth Center for Human Rights , Idaho Black History Museum, Mark Davis, US Attorney's Office, Judge Debora Grasham, Boise WaterShed, Idaho Fish & Game, Susan Manika and Aunty Sue's Kitchen And thank you to our BPD Contributors: BPD SROs, Officer Knarr, Officer Harris, Officer Bourgeau, Officer Fratusco, Officer Lynn, Officer Williams, BPD NCOs, Chief Lee, BPD Command Staff, Jodi McCrosky, Cpt. Ruffalo, Sgt. Kirk Rush, Sgt. Sara Hill, Lt. Jeff Niiya, Lt. Dave Hunsaker, Cpt. Spencer Fomby, Lt. Doug Ericsson, Cpt. Tom Fleming, Officer Larry Miles, Cpt. Matt Bryngelson, Sgt. Eric Urian, Dwight Kirkland, Shari Davis, Motors Officers, K9 officers, Drone Team, CSS team, Sgt. Davis, Det. Guy McKean, Det. Brian Jones, Dennis Heron, Sgt. Dennis Tolan and Retired Officer Joe McCarthy.

Fourth of July is right around the corner! As Captain Bryngelson likes to say, we don't want to be “the fun police” but it's up to all of us to keep our community safe from fires. He sat down with Boise Fire Department Chief Mark Niemeyer to talk about the do's and don'ts of fireworks this Fourth of July. Remember: All fireworks, including non-aerial common fireworks are illegal to use or possess in the wildland-urban interface area (the blue areas on the map). Stay safe and enjoy the holiday Boise! To see if your property falls within this area visit: Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) | Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) | City of Boise Maps and GIS Open Data Portal

It's Pride month and with all that is going on in our state and our city, it's important to share the efforts underway to make this a city for everyone.  On this episode of "The BPD Beat" LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer Dan Lister talks about his work to support, connect and build trust within the LGBTQ+ community.  In the last week, Cpl. Lister and others in our department have had many conversations with leaders in the LGBTQ+ community and with the Boise Pride Festival to review current concerns and we stand ready to support them at events or in person as needed. Anyone who wishes to report crimes involving the LGBTQ+ community is urged to call 911 for immediate assistance.  If someone is looking for additional help or has questions about reporting a crime or follow up, we encourage you to reach out to our LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer Dan Lister at dlister@cityofboise.org.

The Boise Police Department Crime Lab works behind the scenes every day answering tough questions, solving crimes, and bringing forth justice through the power of science. The team includes Crime Lab Supervisor Jennifer Delaney and Criminalists Amelia Wenetzky, Christina Sanchez, Mandy Leung, Chelsie Kienitz, and Teresa Eccles. The lab recently received international accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Captain Bryngelson sat down with Jennifer, Christina, and Amelia to hear some of their stories, and talk about the many different specialties they perform at a crime scene or in the lab that help our detectives close a case. Accreditation News Release: https://www.cityofboise.org/news/police/2022/june/bpd-crime-lab-receives-international-accreditation/?template=CENewsletter&letter=7424

Behind the scenes at the Boise PD, you'll find a team of non-sworn professional staff dedicated to serving the department and the community.  On this episode of the BPD Beat, Captain Matt Bryngelson talks to Stephanie Kendall about the jobs she has had during her time at BPD from records, to the crime analysis unit, to becoming a leader in the department.  As Police Support Services Manager Stephanie oversees our Strategic Services Team, Records staff, and Public Records staff.  She is also friends with just about everyone. As an added bonus, you'll hear about ducks who have caught Bryngelson's attention outside his office.   

Preventing drug use and helping people with substance abuse disorders is a community effort and one BPD is proud to support in multiple ways. One such way is the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program and this week Captain Matt Bryngelson talks to Officer Cody Evans about how the program works. You'll also hear a zoom interview between Officer Evans and two recent graduates from the program, Jake and Miranda, about their experience and how they are doing now.  The LEAD program works to divert people into treatment programs instead of jail.

Boise PD's Organized Retail Crime Unit is dedicated to stopping crime groups who travel state to state to steal expensive items and purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards with stolen credit card numbers. Losses from organized retail theft are a growing problem and can result in price hikes for paying customers. The statewide crime-fighting partnership called ORCAID (Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho) creates a connection between local retailers and law enforcement so that detectives like Officer Ryan Thueson, can gather real-time information and investigate criminal activity impacting businesses. As the thieves go from one store to the next, investigators are able to track their movement and stop them in their tracks before they can take off to the next state. Earlier this year the unit was able to stop a group of suspects from leaving Idaho with more than $37,000 worth of iPads, iPhones, perfume, and other products stolen from local businesses. Captain Matt Bryngelson sat down with Detective Thueson and Beau Lachance, a local retail employee and Retail Chair of the Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho. They talked about how the “business” of organized retail crime works, the trends they see, and how to avoid becoming a victim. You'll also learn more about the local, statewide, nationwide, and federal partnerships that are so important in stopping these thieves from continuing their crime streak. For more information check out https://orcaid.org/.  

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month so we wanted to re-introduce you to our AAPI Liaison Officer Ted Ni. Officer Ni was born in Oakland, California but spent most of his childhood in Taipei. Captain Bryngelson sat down with Ni to talk about his background, his community connections, and the many reasons why he's uniquely suited to bridge the gap between members of the local AAPI community and the Boise Police Department. You'll also hear real stories from his patrol duties and from his experience as BPD's newest liaison.

Captain Matt Bryngelson and Corporal Brek Orton go way back. All the way back to 1999 when Orton left his bartending career in downtown Boise and joined the Boise Police Department. As an officer, he's made many connections throughout the Boise Community, responded to countless calls, and through his training and dedication to service, he's helped save many lives. He's received multiple Silver Star awards and a medal of honor for his bravery. Earlier this month Cpl. Orton responded to a home for a welfare check. He had to get through several locked doors before reaching a woman experiencing a serious medical issue. He recognized the woman's airway was obstructed and quickly retrieved a pharyngeal tube that he had been trained to use by Ada County Paramedics Tac Med team as part of his SOU training. He Inserted the tube, opened the airway, and improved her breathing before paramedics arrived on the scene. Captain Bryngelson sat down with Cpl. Orton to talk about some of these important moments in his career, his training with SOU, and his day-to-day work down at BSU.

About 42 years ago, Boise Police detectives began an investigation into the disappearance of Randy West. Early in the morning on October 13, 1980 Randy went to his shift at the M&W Market in Boise. He was set to open the store that day, but when others showed up, they weren't able to get in. Randy was reported as a missing person, but the evidence left behind led investigators to suspect something more. Several months later, his body was located and his death was ruled a homicide. Decades later, Violent Crimes Detective Mike Miraglia is still working to solve this case. Captain Bryngelson sat down with Det. Miraglia to talk about Violent Crime investigations, the intricacies that come with working a "cold case" and what we know about the murder of Randy West.  If you have any information about this case, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we urge you to contact Boise Police Detectives or call Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS, leave a web tip at 343COPS.Com or use the “P3 Tips” app.

It's National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and this week on the BPD Beat Captain Bryngelson is talking with one of our Ada County Dispatchers, Katie Holland about the work she and other dispatchers do to help our community, our officers, and each other. You'll also learn about some of the new tools they use to ensure the best response when you pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1. 

There are many paths in life that can lead a person to a career in policing. For newly graduated officer Kate Pollow her journey started with working retail, continued with her decision to become a Boise Police Department Community Service Specialist, and eventually lead to her joining the patrol academy and becoming one of BPD's newest officers. Captain Matt Bryngelson sat down with her to talk about her experience with BPD before taking her oath and how she's feeling about her "second career."

You have questions, we have answers. Captain Matt Bryngelson talks with Chief Ryan Lee about on body video cameras. He explains when and how they are used, the expectation for officers, and the ways the department is constantly trying to meet or exceed industry standards through policy and technology.

Many members of the community know Officer Jessica Knarr as the Boise Police Department's Refugee Liaison. But becoming an officer wasn't always part of her plan. Captain Matt Bryngelson sat down to talk about her move from Bartender, Farrier, and College Student to Boise Police Officer. You'll also hear more about the many important roles she's taken on during her time at BPD and how her unique path to policing has helped her serve her community. Anyone with questions about becoming an officer can email us at joinboisepolice@cityofboise.org.

Crisis Negotiation doesn't always play out quite like you see in the movies… but when it comes to the real local stories, there's a lot to talk about! Captain Matt Bryngelson sat down with Corporal Joe Kane, who is a patrol officer in the downtown core and has been a member of BPD's Crisis Negotiation Team for the last 10 years. You'll hear more about the importance of this team, their ongoing scenario-based training, and success stories from Cpl. Kane's decade on the job. TW: This conversation includes discussions surrounding calls for service with suicidal subjects.  

Whether Captain Matt Bryngelson is on duty, hanging out at the dog park, or working out in the gym he seems makes friends everywhere he goes. One of those friends is Nick Esposito, a U.S. Air Force Investigator. He sat down with Nick to talk about how they're connected, the work Nick does out in Mountain Home, and how it's connected to BPD. They also discuss recruiting and the valuable assets members of the military can bring to local police departments. Anyone with questions about recruitment can email us at joinboisepolice@cityofboise.org.

Cute, cuddly, and meant to inspire wellness, Clover is not your typical Police K9. Captain Byngelson's hanging out with the one and only Clover the Wellness K9 and her partner Officer Harrison Maalouf. We take a look back at Clover's past and see how far she's come since the day she was surrendered to the Idaho Humane Society. What makes her so perfect for this very important role? What does her life look like on and off the clock? Keep listening and find out. Oh and as Captain Bryngelson says, "it never hurts having a dog in the studio." (recorded December 2021)

15 years ago, Jeramy Burt went missing. He left his home on the night of February 11, 2007 and never returned. Detectives have spent years investigating his disappearance and gathering case files full of evidence, but they're missing that one crucial piece of information that will finally close this case. Captain Bryngelson sat down with Violent Crimes Sergeant Justin Kendall to talk about homicide investigations, missing persons cases, what happens when a case goes "cold" and recapped what we know about the disappearance of Jeramy Burt. You'll also hear from Jeramy's mom Sheryl and hear her plea to the community. More on the case (video from 2021): https://www.facebook.com/BoisePoliceDepartment/videos/189151349618903/ If you have any information about this case, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we urge you to contact Boise Police Detectives or call Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS, leave a web tip at 343COPS.Com or use the “P3 Tips” app.

A grandson in jail, money mules, gift card payments, and a random prize that sounds just too good to be true.... Detective Thorne with the Financial Crimes Unit shares what he has learned about the inner workings of some of the most common scams. (recorded July 2021)

This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. Please read below for a more detailed description. In recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Captain Matt Bryngelson sat down with Persons Crime Detective Mike Miraglia to talk about the work being done in Boise to combat it. An inside look at what human trafficking looks like in Boise, how officers respond to these types of calls, and the challenges investigators face. Support for victims is available locally through FACES of Hope, the Idaho Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and Idaho COBS.  (Recorded January 2022)

Did you know BPD has a gang unit? They don't just investigate gangs but work to stop kids from joining in the first place. Captain Bryngelson sits down with long-time member Corporal Brian Holland. (recorded September 2021)

After 26 years of service to the City of Boise Sgt. Nick Duggan retires from the Boise Police Department. Captain Bryngelson sits down with him and takes a look back at his long career, the many hats he wore within the department, and the moments he'll never forget. (recorded September 2021)

Corporal Kyle Wills is in the hot seat answering some of your most asked questions about traffic, tickets, and the rules of the road. Hear Captain Bryngelson's unique approach to traffic stops and a beautiful story about speeding, love, and pizza. (recorded July 2021)

Dogs. What more could you ask for? Officer Plaisted sits down with Captain Bryngelson to talk about his K9 partner Geno! What does training look like? What do his neighbors think about living next to a police dog? Find out now. (recorded August 2021)

A look behind the scenes of the Boise Police Department with host Captain Matt Bryngelson. He sits down with officers, detectives, and civilian staff as they share real stories about the work they do in Boise, Idaho.