Boundary County sheriff blocks anonymous calls after abuse surge

by NED NEWTON
Hagadone News Network | May 15, 2025 1:00 AM

BONNERS FERRY — In response to a wave of harassment targeting its non-emergency dispatch line, the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office adopted a policy May 12 to block calls from anonymous numbers.

According to officials, the dispatch center has fielded nearly 100 calls containing threats, profanity and derogatory name-calling aimed at dispatchers and law enforcement over the past several days. Many of these calls have originated from outside the county and even out of state, and efforts to trace them have been hampered by the use of blocked caller IDs.

The surge in complaint calls to BCSO and the Bonners Ferry Police Department began in early April, around the time old BFPD body camera footage of routine traffic stops that escalated into physical altercations went viral on social media. Several of these videos have tens of thousands of views and thousands of comments.

“Our dispatchers work tirelessly to serve the public, and this behavior is unacceptable,” Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley said. “We ask for the community’s cooperation in keeping our non-emergency line clear for those who need assistance. Abusing this line not only disrupts our operations but also impacts our ability to serve those in need.”

Effective immediately, calls from blocked numbers will no longer be accepted on the non-emergency line. Callers are encouraged to use identifiable numbers when contacting the sheriff’s office for non-urgent matters such as reporting non-life-threatening incidents or requesting general information.

Officials emphasized that emergencies should still be directed to 911.

The sheriff’s office is actively investigating the source of the abusive calls and says it will pursue legal action against those found responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact the department at 208-267-3151.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and support as we take steps to ensure our lines are used properly and remain available for real community needs,” Stolley said.