HAYDEN — Public safety and drug trafficking across Idaho’s borders was foremost on Governor Brad Little’s mind Monday during a press conference at the StanCraft Jet Center.  

While trying to crack down on cellphones and drug paraphernalia in the prison system, Little noted a common theme in intercepted drug trafficking communications which made him proud of the state's progress: “Stay over the state line.”   

“With more people moving here, I hear over and over from the people of Idaho that it’s important to remain safe, particularly with all the hyper growth that we have,” Little said.   

Recent conversations with residents and Idaho State Police about have raised changing crime concerns as the population has increased.  

“We have a lot of drugs that are trafficked through the interstate here in this part of the state,” Little said.    

Looking at the scope of national policies concerning immigration and I.C.E., Little has been encouraged by federal relationships with ICE and immigration enforcement agencies “working hand in glove with the administration” to create a “coherent and cooperative atmosphere.”    

Violent crime has hit a five-year low, Little stated, adding that Idaho has one of the lowest homicide rates in the country.   

Stopping drugs from entering the state altogether has been a part of the “Esto Perpetua” initiative.     

This was one of the reasons earlier this year, Little pledged to hire a new prosecutor in the Coeur d’Alene area to focus on drug trafficking cases because the I-90 corridor makes it a priority.  

“Our goal for Esto Perpetua is to get all of the drugs out of Idaho,” Little said.  

Idaho is also adding a new statewide drug interdiction team at ISP to intercept fentanyl coming into the state. 

He stressed that Idaho jails and prisons are working to “break that cycle of recidivism.” 

“We need to realize almost everybody in the corrections system is going to get out and back on the streets we need to keep people safe,” Little said. 

The recent strain on public defenders has also been noted as the new pay rates have gone into effect to standardize them across the state, whether rural or urban areas.  

“For a variety of constitutional challenges, it’s all over the place,” Little said. “People have a constitutional right to a public defense.”   

After the legislature passed the bill was one of county budgets to support the changes to their coffers and to retain staffing.  

“One of the issues was, do we pay the same thing in Nez Perce County as Kootenai County? By the end of the legislative session, we added a lot more money to it,” Little said. “It’s not going to be perfect; it’s a brand-new program.” 

Recently, the North Idaho liaison policy advisor for the North Idaho region for the governor’s office entered a transition. 

Little noted he’s not sure what that position will look like in the future but pledged “to continue to have representatives up here one way shape or form, travel back and forth or they’ll be at another agency.”