About
Chief Ron Winegar
Chief Ron Winegar was named Chief of the Boise Police Department in May of 2023 after being appointed Interim Chief in October 2022. Chief Winegar has a long history with BPD and the Boise Community, “I am proud and humbled by the opportunity to serve as Chief of Police in Boise, and with an agency that I love and have been part of for 30 years. Going forward I will continue to focus on recruitment, hiring and training, as well as community policing and employee wellness,” said Chief Ron Winegar. “The Boise Police Department and its officers will continue to work diligently to provide a safe and welcoming city for everyone.”
Winegar began his law enforcement career with the Boise Police Department in 1993, serving as a Patrol officer, Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor and as a member of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). He was promoted to Sergeant in 1999 supervising Patrol teams, School Resource Officers, the Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Special Victims Unit; Lieutenant in 2006, serving as Watch Commander, in the Vice/Narcotics unit, and over the Special Operations Unit; Captain in 2014, serving in the Community Outreach and Patrol Divisions, and then as Deputy Chief of Operations in 2019. Upon the retirement of Chief Bones in 2019, Winegar served a couple of short terms as Acting Chief of the Boise Police Department. He continued to serve as Deputy Chief again before his retirement in June of 2021.
Winegar holds a bachelor’s degree in “Criminal Justice Administration” from Boise State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, as well as Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. He received a BPD Purple Heart, Medal of Valor, and the State of Idaho Medal of Honor for his courageous actions on the night of September 20, 1997, when Boise PD’s Officer Mark Stall was killed. During that incident, Winegar had responded, along with other officers, to assist Officers Bryan Hagler and Stephen VanDoren on a traffic stop in downtown Boise. He was shot in the lower abdomen/right hip, requiring several months to recover and return to work.
He has served as a drummer for the City of Boise Police Pipes & Drums since it was formed in 1996, volunteering countless hours performing at ceremonies and events. Winegar was also involved with the BPD Honor Guard for many years and was a founding member in 1999 of the first-ever BPD Rock and Roll band named “Jonny Law.” The band, an outreach tool designed to build relationships with the youth in our community, performed over 100 concerts and school assemblies for over 80,000 kids in the Treasure Valley, as well as many community events over the next 10-15 years. He also helped co-found BPD’s Peer Support Team in 2007 and has assisted many other agencies with implementing their own Peer Support programs.
BPD Command Staff and CCAP
Meet the rest of BPD’s Senior Leaders and find contact information for members of the Chief’s Community Advisory Panel.
See More Specialty Positions
BPD maintains best practices and advanced training in a number of different specialties, all designed to better serve and protect Idaho's Capital City.
See More Recent Projects and Updates
Learn about BPD policies and guiding principles, including topics such as implicit bias, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and use of force.
See MoreTo Protect, Serve and Lead Our Community to a Safer Tomorrow
The Boise Police Department is made up of approximately 400 employees, 300 sworn police officers and a civilian support staff of about 100. The officers and staff of the Boise Police Department are dedicated to providing the highest quality public safety and law enforcement services to people who live, work and play in Idaho's capital city.
Our Guiding Principles
Safety: Preserve life, protect property, and respect constitutional rights while enforcing the law with fairness and impartiality. Safety is of paramount importance in all aspects of our work.
Service: Provide courteous police service. Embrace community input and involvement to enhance public safety, prevent and solve crime, and address quality of life issues. Exceed our customers' expectations for service.
Leadership: Strive to maintain the proud tradition of our past while meeting the challenges of our future. Believe in doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right reasons.
Accountability: Operate openly, maintaining public trust and confidence. Make decisions in the best interest of the community we serve. Be courageous, fair, and decisive.
Professionalism: Demonstrate professionalism and uphold the law treating everyone with respect and dignity. Uphold the highest ethical standards. Demonstrate honesty and integrity in our words and in our actions.
Creativity: Provide an individualized and innovative approach to each situation. Seek employee input to continuously improve our practices, programs, and services.
Medal of Honor Recipients
In recognition for extraordinary acts of valor and heroism, the Idaho Law Enforcement, Firefighting and EMS Medal of Honor is awarded to law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs who have been distinguished by exceptionally meritorious conduct, assuring that the sacrifices of these professionals are recognized and their bravery honored by the state whose citizens they protect.
See More Officer Mark Stall
Mark Stall is the first officer known to have been killed in the line of duty in the history of the Boise Police Department.
See MoreIn 2015, the Boise Police Department had an opportunity to apply the principals listed here and give back to a young man in need. It was an effort that included many people throughout the City of Boise and our community partners. The effort was a reminder, when we protect, serve and lead, all in our community have "their best day". Thank you to our fellow city employees and our many community partners who helped make Officer Rashid Day in the City of Boise possible.
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