INVESTIGATIONS
The Investigations Division consists of detectives who investigate all criminal offenses within our city. They are specially trained officers skilled in crime scene investigations, interviewing, and many other areas applicable to specific types of crimes such as fraud, vandalism, shoplifting, burglary, narcotics, motor vehicle thefts, and sex crimes. At Post Falls Police, this division also includes our school resource and community service officers, crime victim advocates, chaplains, and volunteers.
- Chaplains
- Community Services
- School Resource Officers
- Victim Services
- Volunteers
Chaplains
The volunteer chaplains meet the spiritual and crisis needs of department personnel and citizens. Chaplains work on-call daily to provide counseling, education, and support whenever requested. Chaplains are essential for suicide-related calls and death notifications as well as any other type of crisis situation such as sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The chaplain’s suicide prevention outreach continues to grow. Anytime an officer responds to an attempted suicide or threat, chaplains will make contact with any and all involved individuals the following day with a phone call and resource packet. If needed, chaplains respond to the incident scene and stay as long as deemed necessary for the well-being of the suicidal person, family, and friends.
Community Services
Community services officers are responsible for code enforcement of city ordinances such as parking, abandoned vehicles, business signage, and weed overgrowth. Post Falls Police has dedicated one sworn patrol officer and a civilian position to fulfill these duties. Community Services partners with the city government to review and develop city ordinances that are clear and current with the development plan for the city.
Crime prevention is a high priority. The community services officers help facilitate our city’s Block Watch program and keep the community abreast of crime tips, trends, and statistics. A community newsletter is published quarterly on the department’s website. The officers also participate in community outreach programs and events.
School Resource Officers
A school resource officer (SRO) is a sworn officer who also serves as an investigating detective on juvenile cases. They are assigned to schools as an easily-accessible law enforcement officer and law-related counselor and educator. In addition, the SRO collaborates with the school and community as a resource for safety and security issues. They are specially trained to fulfill their unique position in law enforcement and provide a positive role model to students.
Post Falls Police has dedicated three SRO positions to provide service to all schools within the Post Falls School District comprised of one high school, one alternative high school, two middle schools, five elementary schools, and one kindergarten.
Victim Services
Victim Services is staffed with two full-time crime victim advocates to provide support and resources to any victim of a crime and specializes in domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
Victim Services has information and referrals for crime victim compensation, support groups, legal aid, personal safety, and emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. A crime victim advocate is always available through a 24-hour crisis hotline.
Crime victim advocates also provide community outreach and education to local businesses and schools. Each year, several grant awards help financial sustain the staff and free services available to all victims throughout Kootenai County.
Volunteers
At Post Falls Police, we have a dedicated, professional group of adults who give their time and skills to the community known as the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), including a smaller, specially trained group of Volunteers on Patrol (VOP). Many of our volunteers are retired citizens.
VIPS are integral to our department’s mission. They provide additional personnel resources to help with processing and scanning paperwork, greeting citizens, making phone calls, deliveries, patrolling, assisting with traffic and critical incidents and much more.
The volunteer program continues to grow and expand. Those interested in joining VIPS must complete an employment application, which is available at the police department. Upon review and acceptance, prospective volunteers must be fingerprinted and pass a polygraph and background check. Then selected candidates attend an orientation and receive training with the commitment to volunteer a minimum of four hours a week.
Community Room
The Community Room located inside the Post Falls Police Department. Government and registered nonprofit agencies and activities are eligible to reserve the room on a space available basis. The Community Room may be reserved for up to three consecutive working days at least five days in advance and a maximum of two weeks in advance by non-law enforcement groups. Reservations are limited to two uses in a twelve month period.
The City of Post Falls will charge a nonrefundable $25.00 fee a day and a refundable $25.00 cleaning and damage deposit. Some additional fees may apply base upon special equipment and room needs.
For more detail reservation guidelines, click here. To complete a reservation application prior to bringing into the police department, click here.
