Preliminary decision made for new police chief

February 7, 2012

A committee comprised of Bonners Ferry Mayor Dave Anderson, clerk Kris Larson, and council president Mike Klaus, after interviewing four final candidates, unanimously agreed to off the position of Bonners Ferry Police Chief, recently vacated by now-city councilman Rick Alonzo, to a police sergeant from Twin Falls, Idaho. "All four candidates were extremely credible," Anderson said, "and any one of the four were qualified for the job." According to Anderson, an offer has been made to Steve Benkula, subject to approval of the full city council at tonight's council meeting at 7 p.m. at city hall. The four finalists included two local men, acting police chief Joel Minor and former BFPD reserve officer Randy Tremble, now serving with the Bonners Ferry Fire Department. "When we looked at their resumes and at what they said," Anderson said, "Benkula was one step above, the best of the best." If approved by the city council tonight, he said, the new police chief could begin his duties the first week in March.