Lawmakers Question Police Actions at the Capitol

By Greg Pruett • February 26, 2025

Several lawmakers are alleging that several law enforcement officers were trying to “intimidate or pressure” lawmakers at the capitol to vote a certain way on legislation, with one lawmaker raising concerns about police actions in the House gallery during a vote on House Bill 187.

Idaho Dispatch spoke with several lawmakers who asked for anonymity. They told Idaho Dispatch it has been an issue several times at the capitol this session. Lawmakers we spoke with said they had asked the officers why they were in uniform, but the officers allegedly told the lawmakers they were off duty.

Last week, Idaho Dispatch saw approximately several dozen officers in uniform while we were waiting for a committee vote on House Bill 158 (Shield Law legislation for sources) in the House Judiciary and Rules Committee. Another individual we spoke with who was also at the hearing that day estimated that approximately 30 uniformed officers were in attendance.

The law enforcement officers were at the committee hearing for House Bill 187 which will expand search authority on probationers and parolees.

Five uniformed officers in attendance testified in favor of the legislation: Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram, another Caldwell officer, Hailey Police Chief Steve England, Police Chief Joshua Rhodes, and Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford,

The other uniformed officers did not testify, and it is unclear what municipalities they covered and whether they were on or off duty.

Once HB 187 cleared the committee, it was scheduled for debate and a vote on the House floor. That debate and vote took place this last Monday.

After the debate was closed, Speaker Mike Moyle (R—Star) attempted to “unlock” the machine so members of the House could vote on the bill. However, a technical issue prevented the machine from working properly at that time.

A political action committee known as Stop Idaho Rinos posted a video on X with an exchange between Moyle, Rep. John Vander Woude (R – Meridian), and Rep. Brent Crane (R – Nampa).

Vander Woude stood and began speaking about something happening in the gallery above the lawmakers. Vander Woude said,

“This bill is not an easy bill, but I’m a little troubled about having law enforcement standing up at the balcony…”

At that point, Moyle interrupted Vander Woude and said that the debate on the bill had been closed. He apologized and said that debate could not continue in the middle of a vote.

Crane then stood and asked Moyle if the House could go at ease because “we have a situation that needs to be addressed.”

Moyle told Crane they could go at ease after the vote, but Crane said it was regarding the vote itself, possibly indicating that some House members were uncomfortable with what was happening in the gallery while they were trying to vote. Moyle checked with the clerk and eventually told the body that they had to wait until after the vote but acknowledged that some members of the House had concerns about something happening in the gallery.

Lawmakers Idaho Dispatch spoke with said uniformed officers were in the gallery, standing and looking down at lawmakers as they were getting ready to cast their votes. Some lawmakers felt that the officers were trying to intimidate or pressure them into voting for the legislation.

Citizens are prohibited from wearing clothing in the gallery to promote specific groups. For instance, gun owners could not show up in gear, such as hats and shirts, to promote a specific gun organization while a vote is taking place. If officers were not on duty, lawmakers asked Idaho Dispatch how it would be any different for cops to show up in uniform if they were not on duty. Would the goal be to pressure lawmakers into voting a certain way on a bill by being in uniform?

HB 187 passed the House by a vote of 47 to 18. Five members were not present at the time of the vote. Vander Woude was one of the members who voted no on the legislation.