Idaho Falls Police will not unionize

The Idaho Falls City Council voted tonight to deny the request to recognize the Fraternal Order of Police as the collective bargaining unit for the Idaho Falls Police Department. Many police officers and their families were in attendance for the decision.

During the past year, council members had been studying the pros and cons of a police union.

In the discussion before the vote, council members Tom Hally and Ed Marohn mentioned they felt the city human resources department was well equipped to handle any officer complaints and a union was not needed.

But John Radford and Michele Ziel-Dingman said a union would give police a much deserved voice.

In the end, it was a 4 to 2 vote against recognizing a union. Ziel-Dingman and Radford were the only yes votes. It was not the vote police were hoping for.

“Of course, it stings right now, and it’s definitely a blow to all of us but we’ll stay strong, keep fighting and I think we’ll ultimately prevail,” Idaho Falls Fraternal Order of Police, Kyle Christopherson said.

Christopherson said they will try again next year with the new city council and hope for a different outcome.