 |
| Colonel Ralph W. Powell |
The Idaho Senate
confirmed Governor C.L. “Butch”
Otter’s appointment of Colonel Ralph W. Powell as Director of the Idaho State
Police (ISP) this morning. Powell is a thirty year veteran of ISP and has
been acting as interim director since January. Powell will receive his
rank insignia of Colonel during a pinning ceremony on Friday morning in the
ceremonial office of Governor.
“I appreciate the
opportunity to continue my service to the citizens of Idaho,” Colonel Powell
said. “I look forward to our continued effort in building positive working
relationships with our law enforcement partners throughout the state.”
Colonel Powell started
his career with the Idaho State Police as a Trooper in 1983 in District 5, the
southeastern corner of the state with district offices in Pocatello.
Two years later, in 1985 he transferred to District 3 where he served in
Executive Protection and on the ISP SWAT Team. District 3 is based in
Meridian and is the district with the largest population in the state.
Powell served as District 3 Sergeant from 1987 to 1993, when he was promoted to
Captain and transferred to Coeur d’Alene as the District 1 Commander. In
1996, Powell transferred to Boise and took over the District 3 Command
position. Powell was promoted to Major of Police Services in 1999, which
included command of the Forensic Services division. In January 2010,
Powell became Operations Major over Districts 3, 5, 6, which includes most of
the southern portion of the state, as well as, Commercial Vehicle Services,
Training, and ISP’s two Regional Communications Centers. Powell was
promoted to the Lieutenant Colonel in January 2012 and has served as deputy
director over all operations since that time.
Powell serves as Chair
of the Idaho Department of Education’s, “Safe and Drug Free Schools” Advisory
Board, Chair of Region IV Idaho Advisory Board, Idaho/Montana Chapter of the
Federal Bureau of Investigations, National Academy Associates, and is a board
member of the Idaho Traffic Safety Commission, the Strategic Highway Safety
Plan Oversight Committee and the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission.
Colonel Powell holds a
Masters degree in Public Administration, a Bachelors degree in Pre-Law and an
Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. He is a graduate from the FBI
National Academy. He and his wife Julie, have five daughters and eight
grandchildren.
There will be a
reception honoring Colonel Powell on Friday, March 29th at 2:00 p.m. in the
cafeteria on the Idaho State Police campus in Meridian.
For more information on the Idaho State Police and its services, please visit our website at isp.idaho.gov.
