Blackfoot police chief retires after 16 years

For 16 years, the same man, Dave Moore, has led Blackfoot’s police department.

Thursday was the eve of a changing-of-the-guard for Blackfoot as he retired.

As Moore said farewell, he reflected on his long career with one word: “community.”

” I think there’s been more acceptance of the police department,” he said. “We went from being a more reactive police department 15 years ago, to being proactive.”

He said he would miss the interaction with people in the community.

Moore said he’s proud of the changes he’s made, and the support he’s received from Blackfoot Mayor Mike Virtue. Moore said city leaders have encouraged integration of Blackfoot’s officers into the community.

” It’s important that law enforcement be involved in the community,” said Virtue.

For Moore, that’s made all the difference.

“We’re not just police officers, but citizens as well,” he said.

It’s important for Moore to know he’s still being proactive and preserving the sense of the community he values so much.

It’s unusual for an exiting chief to pick the successor, but Moore credits the faith of his community for giving him the privilege of appointing 22-year Blackfoot Police Department veteran Kurt Asmus to the job.

Asmus, however, said he’s not going to be a clone of Moore. He has his own ideas.

“We’ve got such a great foundation that the chief started with that we’re going to keep going down that path,” said Asmus.

For Moore, that path has come to its end.

” I’ve been behind the wheel, I’ve been behind the desk,” he said. “I’m going to miss it.”