MY TURN: Accountability in law enforcement, Part 2

(Part 1 appears in the Cd'A Press on 1/14/25)

Reference the Cd'A Press article of Jan. 16, 2025, front page headline: Illegal fireworks hard to stop. Cd'A Police Chief Lee White finds humor in saying, “If our biggest issue is fireworks, we’re doing pretty good.” Of course there are much bigger fish to fry. Let’s not forget that “delivering basic services of crime control and maintaining order” is part of police accountability, according to Sheriff Norris’ website. Enforcing something as “basic” as fireworks, which only occurs two out of 365 days each year would seem like an easy task.

Chief White is telling our veterans who deserve our support for putting their lives at risk and suffer from PTSD they are of LOW PRIORITY. He’s telling our citizens with beloved pets and our community of taxpaying homeowners that they are of LOW PRIORITY. It is disrespectful telling our legislators who worked tirelessly to get illegal fireworks in Idaho that enforcing the law is of LOW PRIORITY. Nothing about illegal fireworks is humorous. Citizens deserve enforcement of our laws.

“The solution to this problem truly lies in curbing the availability of illegal fireworks,” Chief White stated and yet, Tyrel Stevenson, legislative director for the Cd'A Tribe, states “vendors are not empowered or equipped to inquire into the intentions or home residence of customers.” Selling fireworks to non-tribal individuals appears to be aiding the distribution of illegal fireworks.

The Cd'A Tribe prides itself on the preservation of spiritual and traditional values, which includes a respect and reverence for responsible environmental stewardship, and the building of safe and healthy communities. Is the Tribe surrendering its values for profit when it sells illegal fireworks to non-tribal citizens? Why couldn’t the Cd'A Tribe extend those values to their neighbors by offering a coordination action plan (tribal-state compact) to empower and equip firework vendors to ban selling to non-tribal citizens and/or make it mandatory to see a permit?

Our fire department inspectors are responsible for the distribution of permits. Why isn’t White enforcing the law and arresting people who purchase illegal fireworks without a permit? To find out if someone in your “city park area” has been setting off illegal fireworks, call the city of Cd'A Recreation Department, 208-769-2250, preferably in May or June so the police will have advance notification. It’s obvious that White can use all the help he can get.

In 2024, only 17 citations and warnings were given. Warnings are not enough. Higher fines would put a “curb” on illegal fireworks. Could Chief White empower our Citizens on Patrol to issue citations and fines for illegal fireworks? How about utilizing private security? How about establishing a hotline just for the Fourth of July season to handle ALL of the calls, not just 116 that finally got through due to lack of planning? Whining about being short staffed and saying it is too “hard to stop” isn’t solving any problem. A police chief should be an elected official position instead of appointed by a very small number who do not represent the majority of our community.

On a good note, with a new weapon to fight against drugs called Special Assistant United States Attorney in North Idaho, trafficking offenses would be tried in federal court where the burden of time and cost would shift from the local level to the federal level. This program will free up local law enforcement, courts, prisons and taxpayer money, leaving us with more of everything to enforce illegal fireworks laws.

Let’s hope a new “elected” police chief is able to eradicate Chief White’s behavior treating citizens with LOW PRIORITIES.

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JoAnn Lokken is a Coeur d'Alene resident.