July 29, 2025
NEWS RELEASE
Over the past year the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office has been working toward a new K-9 resource attached to the School Resource Officer (SRO) Team. The project included the implementation of a therapy dog, partnered with an SRO Deputy and utilized in the schools for students with special needs and disabilities. Deputies assigned to area schools interact with students on a regular basis who have disabilities or special needs. At times when these students are in crisis, interactions can be difficult to deal with and often turn physical with staff and counselors. After seeing what a therapy K-9 can do as a calming resource in these situations, SRO Deputies and the Sheriff’s Office began looking at ways to bring one to our team.
For the past five years the GIFPF has been utilizing their resources on a variety of projects benefitting Law Enforcement in Bonneville County. The foundation is made up of interested citizens who care about the safety of our communities and use their resources to help make projects like this a reality. Recognizing the importance of getting the right K-9 and training for this type of program, the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation (GIFPF) stepped up in a big way with a donation of $12,000 to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office to go toward the purchase, upkeep, and training of this new K-9.
The donation made it possible for the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office to locate the perfect K-9 pup for this purpose, a Bernedoodle named “Strider”, and pair him with SRO Deputy Nathan Downey to begin training. Dep. Downey, part of the SRO Team assigned to Thunder Ridge High School and Bonneville School District #93, has been with his new K-9 partner “Strider” for the past 3 months preparing for students.
The Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation has been instrumental in a number of projects that assist our local Law Enforcement in a time when budgets are tight, and resources are difficult to obtain. As the program continues, Sheriff’s Deputies foresee the benefit of K-9 Strider reaching beyond our schools and into the community alongside our other K-9 and specialty team resources. “We are thankful for community partners like the GIFPF who support our team with innovative projects like this” said Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse. “We look forward to Strider making a positive difference in our schools.”
For more information about the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation, their projects, and how you can support their efforts with our community, visit their website at www.IFpolicefoundation.org.
