Teresa Baker
Public Information Officer
Headquarters
700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642
(208) 884-7122
Fax (208) 884-7087
For Immediate Release: 12/22/14 at 4:20 p.m.
IDAHO FALLS - Idaho State Police Captain Danny K. Bunderson, currently ISP's longest serving trooper and the agency's commander in District 6, will retire on December 31, 2014 after 38 years of service to the citizens of Idaho. Captain Bunderson's retirement will be celebrated by an open house on Monday, December 29th beginning at 1:00 p.m. at ISP's Training Room at 550 West Sunnyside in Idaho Falls.
Upon reflection of his days serving in law enforcement Captain Bunderson said, "I learned early on in my career that building positive working relationships was the only way to effectively provide quality law enforcement to the people of Idaho, the type of quality they expect from their law enforcement communities." He continued, "This includes not only relationships with public safety partners but also with legislators, the media and the community as a whole. We simply don't have the money and resources to go it alone, we have to depend on each other to keep our communities safe."
Bunderson started his career in January 1977 and was stationed at Cotterel Port of Entry for three years before he attended the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) in 1978. In 1980 he transferred to Rigby where he worked in commercial vehicle enforcement for approximately two years before he took a position in patrol. In 1983, he, along with six other troopers including his brother Brent, graduated from the Idaho State Police Academy.
Bunderson patrolled in ISP's District 6 in the Idaho Falls area for several years where he cultivated positive working relationships with the allied law enforcement agencies and excelled in DUI enforcement and drug interdiction. He also served as the District's fitness instructor and as a crash reconstructionist.
In 1986 Bunderson was selected to serve in ISP's newly formed Vehicle Theft Unit where he spent four years investigating vehicle thefts, title fraud and other associated criminal activity.
In the fall of 1990, after 13 years as a trooper, Bunderson was promoted to District 6 Patrol Sergeant and in the spring of 1991, he was then promoted to District 6 Patrol Lieutenant.
In the summer of 1997 Bunderson graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Shortly after his return from Quantico, he was promoted to District Commander of District 2, in Lewiston. While serving in that position, he was one of three ISP command staff responsible for developing the convention center and hotel security footprint for the Western Governors' Conference which was held in Coeur d'Alene in 2001 and the National Governors' Conference that was held in Boise in 2002.
In the fall of 2002, Bunderson returned to District 6 where he has served as the District Commander overseeing patrol and investigations operations for the past 12 years.
Bunderson stated, "I have always put the safety of the troopers and staff as a priority. This has included doing my best to get them the proper equipment to do their jobs." He is also proud of his part in contributing to the professional development and success of those under his command and has been pleased when some of those same troopers have gone on to become his supervisors.
Some of the significant accomplishments in Bunderson's career include:
- Part of the four member command staff committee that introduced to ISP the leadership philosophy of "life skills" that quickly become part of the agency's culture and still exists in many forms today.
- The reconstruction of the District 2 office after it sustained extensive damage it sustained when it was hit by a runaway truck from Lewiston Hill in April of 2000. The reconstruction was done without cost to Idaho taxpayers.
- Assisting Idaho numerous legislators in the drafting of Idaho's "Move Over" law with that protects public safety and tow truck personnel from potential harm caused by passing motorists during traffic stops or while assisting motorists on roadways and interstates.
- Serving as a member of the governing board of Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force after collaborating with local sheriffs, police chiefs, county prosecutors and other ISP personnel in developing the critical incident protocol for officer involved shootings.
- Collaboration with several local law enforcement agencies, US Forest Service, Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho Military Division's Public Safety Communications division in establishing a means of communication along the US12/US93/SH28 corridor by installing emergency call stations in preparation for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. These call stations are still in use today.
The Bunderson family will host a private, invitation-only retirement dinner in the Captain's honor for family and friends on January 10th in Idaho Falls.
Lieutenant Steve Davis, who has supervised District 6 Investigations for the past ten years has been promoted to Captain and will replace Bunderson as ISP's District 6 Commander beginning January 1st.
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