Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a police officer? Now you can see for yourself and get to know our Idaho Falls police officers a little better. Tune in to "On Patrol: Live" on Friday and Saturday nights and see Idaho Falls Police officers doing what they do best — keeping our City safe.
"On Patrol: Live" is a national documentary series that shows everyday police work in communities across the country. For the next few weeks, producers will ride along with our officers and show what’s happening as it happens, with commentary from host and executive producer Dan Abrams.
Our police department regularly invites residents to ride along, but we know that isn’t possible for everyone. This show gives all of us a look at the work our officers do every day.
Not every shift is dramatic. Some days are quiet, with minor calls, traffic enforcement, following up on cases and locating people with warrants. Other days officers respond to serious crashes, assaults, domestic violence and other situations that put our community at risk. Every day is different, and our officers are ready for all of it.
Our officers are excited to share their work, and the response so far has been wonderful. Residents are tuning in, asking questions online and getting to know the people behind the badge
Idaho Falls is the first Idaho agency to be featured on the show. The producers chose us because of our size, our call volume and because Idaho Falls Police Department has built a reputation for being open and working well with the media. That openness is no accident. IFPD has made transparency and community connection a priority for years. Think of the Neighborhood Cleanup projects in the spring, Popsicles with Police in the summer, Community Night Out in August and Treats with the Police in the fall. These events build trust and relationships, and "On Patrol: Live" is one more way to do that.
You can watch on REELZ, an independent network available on many cable systems and major streaming services. The show airs from 9 p.m. to midnight Eastern, which is 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. here in Mountain Time.
If watching leaves you curious, I encourage you to join the Citizens Academy next spring. You’ll see forensics and crime scene investigation, firearms, Tasers, K9 officers, SWAT, the Bomb Squad and more. You will gain a better understanding of what it takes to keep our city safe. Applications generally open in February.
Everyone plays a part in keeping Idaho Falls a great place to live, and getting to know our officers is a good place to start.