Idaho State Police celebrating 80th birthday

Wednesday marks the 80th year of service for the Idaho State Police.

Founded on Feb. 20, 1939, ISP can actually trace its roots back to 1919 as the Bureau of Constabulary, which was founded in response to “threats of violence and sabotage by union organizers,” according to Captain Eric Dayley.

Dayley has spent the last 35 years with the state police and has seen changes in all aspects of the job.

“Technology has brought a lot of changes from in-car video cameras to semi-automatic pistols to electronic citations,” Dayley said.

When Dayley started, troopers weren’t issued body armor and their vehicles didn’t even have cages to separate the troopers from the prisoners.

“We used to transport them up in the front seat with us. Interesting conversations sometimes on the way to the jail,” he explained. “It’s just a lot of changes.”

Now, celebrating eight decades of service, the District 5 office, based in Pocatello, is hosting a celebration.

“We’ll invite the retirees…we’ll recognize the oldest trooper and the youngest trooper, have some cake,” Dayley explained.

Part of the celebration will include a slideshow with various pictures from throughout the agency’s history. And while it’s great to look back, Dayley is looking forward.

“When I look at the future of the state police, I can look back 35 years and I think, well I know, we’re in a better place than we were 35 years ago,” Dayley said. “And I see the future, as much as you can, and I believe we’ll be in an even better place 35 years from now.”