BONNERS FERRY — The Bonners Ferry Police Department is again providing 24-hour service after several years of operating on a reduced schedule. 

Police Chief Willie Cowell announced the change during the Bonners Ferry City Council meeting on Dec. 2, the day after around-the-clock coverage resumed.  

Cowell said the department was able to return to full service after hiring its eighth officer. 

With the new staffing level, the department will now be on call during overnight hours. Previously, the city had no police officer on duty between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. because of staffing shortages. 

Cowell noted that under former Police Chief Brian Zimmerman, the department had maintained 24-hour coverage for a period of time. 

“In 2019 or 2020, we went to a 20-hour-a-day shift and it was because of staffing and manpower,” Cowell said. 

Zimmerman’s philosophy, according to Cowell, was that the department should not operate 24/7 unless it had eight officers. 

“When he left, we were at seven,” Cowell said. “We’re back to eight and it’s time to go.” 

“We need to be a fully functioning police department,” he added. “There’s not a whole lot of crime, but there are things that happen between that 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. time period. We want to give as much as we can to the tax base that relies on us.” 

Cowell said there may be nights when the department will have two officers on shift during the night. 

“If there is just one in the city, there’s always going to be one in the county as well, at least,” Cowell said. “We’re covering the county constantly; they’re covering us constantly.” 

He added that having eight officers also improves working conditions.

“It helps a lot with retention — keeping guys where they don’t feel overworked and stretched to the max,” Cowell said. 

“But being able to provide that 24/7 coverage again — taxpayers expect it and it’s a service we need to be able to give to our tax base, as well as provide cover for the county if it’s needed.”