Item 2 of the agenda for the joint Kootenai County Commissioners – Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting on May 4, 2015, reads, “2. SAUSA Program (Special Assistant to U.S. Attorney) – Commissioner Green.”
OpenCdA wonders how many people in our area know anything about Idaho’s existing participation in the SAUSA Program? For that matter, we wonder how many people here know much about the overall jurisdiction, authority, duties and responsibilities of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho?
We think some public discussion of this proposal would be beneficial to all.
OpenCdA also notes that during the 2015 legislative session, House Bill 0284 was passed and then signed into law by Governor Otter. It was primarily an appropriations bill for the Idaho Department of Correction, however it contained an expression of legislative intent regarding the distribution of moneys for the Special Assistant United States Attorney Project. Specifically, the law authorizes the distribution of $70,000 from the state’s General Fund for the Special Assistant United States Attorney Project. However, it makes that distribution contingent on the cities and counties of northern and eastern Idaho providing their share of funding for these positions per contractual agreement.
OpenCdA hopes that before entering into any agreements for our area’s participation in the SAUSA Program, northern Idaho officials will host at least one informational meeting in our area with a program similar to the one in Pocatello on April 22, 2014.
We are aware that there is already some information being circulated about this proposal. The wording of this document strongly suggests that that both the public and the prospective SAUSA Program participants would benefit from an opportunity to ask and answer questions of the people who will administer and participate in it if an SAUSA Program comes to northern Idaho. We think that the informational meeting should be a genuine discussion rather than the far-too-typical “write your question on a card, pass it to the aisle” that seems to be favored up here.
Some of the items OpenCdA would like to see explained and discussed at an informational meeting:
- What does the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho do? What is its jurisdiction? Where are its offices? Who staffs those offices?
- What is a Special Assistant US Attorney (SAUSA)? How is an SAUSA different from an AUSA?
- What is the SAUSA Program? What does it do? The Treasure Valley SAUSA Program primary focus was to investigate and federally prosecute gang-related offenses in southwestern Idaho. What will be the primary focus of the SAUSA Program proposed in northern Idaho?
- If the US Attorney’s Office workload warrants an SAUSA in our area, why would our area not see greater benefits from having additional full-time AUSAs assigned to Coeur d’Alene?
- If the SAUSA will not be an attorney detailed from another federal agency but instead will be a deputy prosecuting attorney from a county prosecutor’s office, how can the public be assured that sensitive information will not inappropriately find its way into the hands of county or city officials?
In our past employment with the federal government, we had several opportunities to participate in programs and investigative activities with local law enforcement. In all instances we can recall, both our agency and local law enforcement benefited from the mutual participation and cooperation.
We hope that the proponents of the SAUSA Program in northern Idaho will hold the public informational meeting and give the public an opportunity to discuss its concerns and offer constructive suggestions. The SAUSA Program and northern Idaho will be better served if the Program goes forward with public support based on factual, complete information rather than misinformation, speculation, and rumor.
ADDENDUM on 05-05-2015: This was provided to OpenCdA this morning and represented as being the final version of the KCRCC resolution concerning the proposed SAUSA Program.
Yes, I would like to know more about how SAUSA relates to North Idaho. The Press Release provided by the US Attorneys Office was from 2012 – citing 212 drive by shootings in Nampa, Idaho – and how SAUSA was able to reduce that number, but who knows what is going on now? Gang related activity is scary and I hope it never becomes a real problem here in North Idaho, or maybe we just do not hear about it. I was watching the Freddie Gray incident, yesterday. When you have major leaders of known gangs like the Bloods and the Crips giving speeches on Baltimore’s victory day, it lends an eye to the real problem and it is not racial or police brutality. The kid was arrested over 20 times and was known to deal in heroin – probably on his bicycle for all I know. Still, no excuse for his death, but I wonder why 6 police officers would get so violent with one person if they were not somehow involved as in “dirty.” Did they want their share of the profits? Folks do not seem to want to confront the real issue and it appears to be organized crime and a massive failure in our justice system to control and eradicate the drug problem. Also, another focus was on a church handing out toiletries and day to day items for families affected by the burning of a CVS pharmacy. No mention of any looting of oxycontin or powerful drugs, nope – just adult underwear.
You are absolutely right, the public deserves to know what the funds will be used for concerning SAUSA, so we can support the program. Thanks for publishing this agenda, I did not know the city and county met jointly. How about surrounding cities in Kootenai County – why were they not included?
Comment by Stebbijo — May 3, 2015 @ 9:19 am
Stebbijo,
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, at least once or twice yearly the City and County meet. Part of that may be that the County has property surrounded by the City, so there are some shared interests.
I don’t know that the surrounding cities were not invited to attend Monday’s meeting. But including them adds another good reason for having an open public informational meeting. The principal US Attorney’s Office for Idaho is in Boise, but it has a branch office at the new federal building on Mineral. Here’s some info about the CdA office:
Comment by Bill — May 3, 2015 @ 11:07 am
My concern in this process begins with Dan Green, he rubber stamps whatever the Sheriff and Prosecutor desires. Fortunately the other two Commissioners are taking a more pragmatic approach. I also feel that the rest of the cities should be represented in this and their citizens. If it were done Dan’s way it would already be a backroom done deal.
Comment by Appalled — May 5, 2015 @ 10:01 am
Appalled,
I think that the public should have an opportunity to hear and comment on all sides of this issue before a decision is made. Unfortunately, the way public meetings are run in Coeur d’Alene, the public is rarely given the opportunity to genuinely discuss an issue with presenters. Typically, the hosts require that questions be written on 3 x 5 cards and submitted to a board of filters rather than allowing the public to engage in conversation with presenters. There are valid points that need to be raised about both sides of the question.
Comment by Bill — May 5, 2015 @ 11:53 am
Not sure if this is the right thread or not to state my thoughts about the recent death of a local policeman, but it appears fitting at least in light of my first comment that while we appear to focus on the behaviors of the criminal, the senseless killing of Officer Moore was a direct result of a justice system lacking the stronghold to rehabilitate or keep in check the “career criminal.” Very senseless and wrongful death of a police officer.
Comment by Stebbijo — May 8, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
… and while I am at it, Jonathan Renfro’s crimes are in collections for his lack of being able to pay his fines ect. and then our justice system hands down this big 2 million dollar bail … get out of jail free card … on him, as to impress the general public of their intent to band-aide this egregious crime. This grandstand by our justice system is nothing but an offensive public insult.
Comment by Stebbijo — May 8, 2015 @ 8:46 pm