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Officer Willie Cowell honored
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September 5, 2012 |
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On August 29,
Bonners Ferry Police Chief Steve Benkula
presented officer Willie Cowell the
Distinguished Service Medal for his
actions during a routine traffic stop in
March that turned out to be far from
routine. |
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An observant officer who took all the right
actions during what started out as a routine
traffic stop early March 18 wound up taking
eight pounds of heroin off the street with two
in custody on felony charges, one of them wanted
in California for a double murder. For his
actions, Bonners Ferry Police Officer Willie
Cowell was awarded the Distinguished Service
Medal August 29 by Chief Steve Benkula.
According to his award citation, Cowell was
nearing the end of his graveyard shift at about
7 a.m. that sleepy Sunday morning when he
noticed a brand-new 2012 Ford pickup with no
visible registration. He pulled it over at 6697
South Main Street, and as soon as the vehicle
stopped, a man came out of the passenger door
and made an attempt to open the rear passenger
door.
Immediately recognizing the threat, Cowell
ordered the man to keep his hands in sight, even
while keeping his eye on the driver, who was
still inside the truck.
The man outside was visibly nervous and making
furtive movements, raising Cowell's level of
concern even higher. He called for backup, and
kept the two under control until help arrived.
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Barbara
Willoughby |
Once backup arrived, Cowell identified the
driver as Barbara Willoughby, but the passenger
wouldn't identify himself, nor was he carrying
any identification. Both said they were from
California, but they told conflicting stories
when asked what brought them to Bonners Ferry.
Neither could they explain having travelled
1,500 miles with no luggage, changes of clothes
or anything else most people who travel carry
along.
With nothing adding up, Cowell asked for and was
given permission to search the rig, and it
didn't take long for a Border Patrol K9 Cowell
requested to home in on a backpack. Inside were
three vacuum sealed packages, each about the
size of a brick, wrapped in cellophane and foil,
warranting the arrest of both people, now
suspected of trafficking drugs.
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Hector Rivera |
The contents of those "bricks" turned out to be
heroin, 8.1 pounds of it, making it the biggest
bust involving the drug in Idaho history. It
also turned out that the man in the passenger
seat was one Hector Rivera, Los Angeles, who
happened to have an outstanding warrant back
home for a double homicide.
Because of the scope of the case, federal
charges were brought and the case remains under
investigation by federal authorities.
While his actions that morning are impressive by
any standard, what's more amazing is that
Officer Cowell, who served two years as a
volunteer reservist with the BFPD, has been on
the force full time for less than a year.
"This is a career case for an officer," Benkula
said. "It doesn't happen often."
The award was presented during a joint
city/county meeting/training session, and Willie
received the honor in front of fellow law
enforcement officers and around 40 of his
friends and family.
Of the seven awards that can be bestowed upon an
officer of the Bonners Ferry Police Department,
only the Medal of Valor and the Medal of Bravery
rank higher.
"Officer Cowell," his citation reads, "because
of your tenacity and willingness to take the
extra step, you were able to take a dangerous
drug and homicide suspect off of the
street. Actions such as this look favorably on
the Bonners Ferry Police Department and show
your dedication to your profession."
The best part of the story, as any law
enforcement professional knows, is that Officer
Cowell and everyone else involved were able to
go home safely to their families ... well,
except for Rivera and Willoughby.
But they, too, are safe, and their families can
visit. |
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