Media Guide

The Boise Police Department is a major source of news in the Boise Community. Like the news media, BPD operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And like the media, we serve the citizens of this community, in part, through collecting and sharing important information.

The purpose of the information here is to educate reporters on resources available. The release of information from the BPD to the media will be in the spirit of the department’s media policy and in accordance with Idaho Code. This guide is a reference only, and not intended to cover every possible situation.

Breaking News and News Releases

Breaking news is often posted first on BPD's Twitter account. Twitter updates on breaking news may be posted prior to emailed information, and in some cases, may take place of an email.

BPD news releases are posted on our homepage and are automatically distributed via an automated email alert system and to Twitter. Anyone may sign up to receive BPD news releases.

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Who To Contact

The BPD Public Information Office manages media inquiries, public education and community relations for the department and is authorized to act as a department spokesperson.

Media Line: Email Us

The Media Line is answered as quickly as possible during normal business hours. On weekends, nights, and holidays, BPD has an on-call PIO who may be called in by the department for major incidents. All other media inquiries will be answered during normal business hours.

For breaking news on weekends, nights and holidays, the Watch Commander may be able to provide some information.

Watch Commander: (208) 377-6790

The Watch Commander is able to provide basic info on breaking crime incidents. If you call a Watch Commander immediately after a report goes out over the radio, he or she will have no more info than you do. It may be at least 30 minutes, sometimes longer, until details are available for public release.

Watch Commanders are in the patrol division and not briefed on cases that involve detectives or ongoing investigations (different divisions – different jobs). If you’d like a weekend or evening follow up on an ongoing investigation, please plan ahead and get the info from the Communications Director/PIO during normal business hours.

Public Information Officer

PIO’s may be called in during off hours by department commanders. Information on ongoing investigations is released as the investigation allows and at the direction of the investigating officers. What this means for newsrooms is, your inquiries about updates on investigations needs to happen during normal business hours. Information will not be released at 2:00 a.m. unless it’s at the direction of an investigator.

Crimes and Arrests

Boise Police follow Idaho Code 9-335 and the BPD Media Policy when releasing information to the public

Mental Holds and Child Custody

Police Officers routinely deal with people who have diagnosed or suspected mental illness. Medical conditions are protected under the medical records provision of the public records act. If a police action results in the hospitalization of an individual for treatment of mental illness, it’s the policy of the Boise Police Department to publically state that the individual is in the custody of the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare. Additional information will likely not be available.

Child protection actions and child custody are also protected by law. Children taken into protective custody for whatever reason are provided protection of their identities and status under state and federal statutes. It is the policy of the BPD to publically state only that children have been placed in “safe” custody without further specifying their location, the agency or family member involved.