Two Police Chiefs, One Sheriff Under Fire for ‘Double Dipping’ on Tax Payers?
By Greg Pruett • January 1, 2025The Twin Falls Police Chief, Nampa Police Chief, and Bonner County Sheriff are taking criticism for what many call “double dipping.”
Twin Falls Police Chief Craig Kingsbury, Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff, and Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler have all faced criticism for their recent retirements, only to return weeks later to be re-hired for the same position. The benefit? All three retain their retirement benefits while also getting paid for their positions.
Idaho passed a law in 2023 (enacted in July 2023) that allows law enforcement officers to come out of retirement, keep their retirement pay going, and be paid for their current work. The law requires that the individual be separated for 30 days before they can cash in on the benefit.
Lawmakers at the time the bill was being discussed seemed to indicate that there was a shortage of qualified applicants at times and that being able to hire a retired law enforcement person may be necessary. However, some lawmakers felt that the purpose was not to let high-ranking officials retire and then come back so they could make a lot more money but to be able to find individuals when departments had a hard time finding qualified candidates.
Kingsbury’s retirement was announced in September 2023, just two months after the new law went into effect. His retirement was official on October 17, 2023. Kingsbury was re-hired in December 2023, just long enough for him to gain retirement status and become eligible to come back with retirement pay, with a salary of over $100K.
In his announcement, Kingsbury said he wanted to test the retirement waters and then, upon his return, said he missed being a police officer.
Huff’s retirement was effective July 17th, 2023, just two weeks after the new law was enacted. Huff was re-hired on August 22nd, 2023, just past the 30-day window needed to get his retirement benefits and return to a six-figure job.
Huff had said he was going to take 30 to 45 days off to see what retirement was all about. He left the door open to come back and said he would see what other opportunities were available.
Wheeler, meanwhile, announced his retirement earlier this month and said he would only be filing for retirement for 30 days and then would come back. Wheeler did not say he was retiring to test the waters or something similar to what Huff and Kingsbury said when they announced.
So, were law enforcement officials really intending to retire, or were they taking advantage of a law passed by the legislature that allows them to make six-figure jobs plus their retirement benefits simultaneously? Some citizens feel that the retirements are not genuine and that the chiefs and sheriffs should just be open about why they are taking the break.
In the meantime, some lawmakers are expressing frustration that the law is being taken advantage of in a way they were not expecting.
Former State Senator Scott Herndon (R – Sandpoint), who voted for SB 1054, told the Spokesman-Review a few weeks ago,
“It was meant to hire experienced people back when there were shortages.”
State Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld (R – Twin Falls) told Idaho Dispatch,
“When I voted for this bill, it was never intended to be misused in this way. It is disheartening that, during a time when so many are struggling financially, principles were set aside, and the retirement benefit was not rejected upon returning to work. For individuals to purposely retire for 30 days, knowing they are returning, to get extra pay from Idaho taxpayers is just wrong.
I would not have supported the bill if I realized this is what some individuals would do. I suppose these are the unintended consequences of what we believed to be a good idea.”
Idaho Dispatch has contacted all three law enforcement personnel for comment and will update this story if they respond.
Do you believe the three law enforcement officials intended to retire, or were they simply taking advantage of a law that the legislature passed? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Tags: Bonner County, Craig Kingsbury, Daryl Wheeler, Glenneda Zuiderveld, Joe Huff, Nampa, PERSI, Retirement, Scott Herndon, Twin Fals
Shocker (sarcasm).
Just my opinion. It’s really no different than retiring from the military after 20 years of service and going into law enforcement for another career. What’s the difference on them retiring and going somewhere else to work? If they want to draw a check and the county wants to higher them back, well that tells me they are doing a good job or no one wants their job. There still doing the job, so shouldn’t they get paid? Afterall it’s the county that’s hiring them back. Also, they are going to pay a higher tax on their income. Thanks
It is not the same thing as retiring from the military and getting a job in law enforcement. It is the same as retiring from the military to take a month off (avoid using leave), then returning to your same military position while receiving double the income. Meanwhile, no one was able to apply for your position while you were on the beach for a month, so the public never gets to know if there was a better option if there is never a chance for a transparent hiring process.
Please name a police chief in the entire country that has been fired by a city manager or city council simply due to “poor job performance”???
Not getting fired is not indicutive of doing a good job. Getting double paid by cronie friends after a wink wink nod nod agreement isn’t either.
What they did was immoral, they retired and positions should have been filled. If they wanted to come back after 30 days they should have been required to apply like anyone else. Those positions should have been filled prior to return. They should also be required to pay back the funds for double dipping and legislation needs to remove this rule.
Agree
Can you retire from the military and then 30 days later re-enlist in the military for the exact same job and rank while continuing to draw your retirement or do you have to go find some other job to do? Because it does seem to be different than a military person retiring and then getting a different job.
This is vastly different. In your example, different careers were chosen. This is yet another example of fleecing the taxpayers.
If the cities or counties never post a job vacancy, then it is an attempt to circumvent (violate) employment laws. There is no fair opportunity to open the position to other qualified candidates. This means that the “retiring” chief need not do a “good job”, rather simply make friends with the right politicians.
It is not the same thing as retiring from the military and getting a job in law enforcement. It is the same as retiring from the military to take a month off (avoid using leave), then returning to your same military position while receiving double the income. Meanwhile, no one was able to apply for your position while you were on the beach for a month.
There will never be a measurement of doing a “good job” if the cities and county can avoid an honest effort in finding better candidates.
Ask Brad Doty and Chris Allgood about the old bait and switch with Persi. They both got their city council positions held during the waiting period for Persi after retiring as high ranking cops. Then, they were “re-appointed” by the mayor of Caldwell. Allgood got the sweet deal by mayor Nancolas and Doty got a sweet deal by mayor Wagoner.
Doty likes to get drunk and then drive from Indian Creek Steakhouse. Allgood and Doty both got $1000 campaign donations from Indian Creek Steakhouse. Then they vote to put the small city lot next to ICSH on the market for $10,000 even though it’s worth $250,000. They stated Indian Creek Steakhouse has done so much for the community and it should go to ICSH. Wonder how other businesses felt about that.
Allgood’s current wife who’s much younger, is the ex wife of Allgood’s god son. Allgood decided he could take care of his god sons baby momma when they split. Must be a awkward child exchange.
Doty was married and had a kid, then cheated on his wife with their babysitter. Then Doty married the babysitter and had two more kids. They also got divorced.
Wonder what type of mayor Doty will be when he lied in a official police crash scene witness statement. He also likes to cut off women talking during council meetings and is very rude to people, including people he worked with at Idaho State Police.
Request his use of force tapes. Will be an interesting watch.
Speaking of Caldwell council members, ask Mike Dittenber why he left Boise Police since he likes to brag about his police career. Many of my fellow members of the BPD union hated him. A mutany was at hand due to his behavior. Just ask any union member during the time he was there at Boise PD.
Also ask him about some missing lawn mowing equipment when he was employed at another Boise agency. He left without being charged over the missing equipment. Must be nice.
The Dittenber duo sure know how to fleece the taxpayers. Their arrogant attitudes clear back in their Boise days have continued to this day I’ve heard.
Wow. That’s a mayor. Lol
We just had a vote and the sheriff one unanimously against his opponent (the ex commissioner Bradshaw) who as we all know sucked as a commissioner and actually took the citizens money by claiming he was here while living in texas and still collecting his paycheck. Many people would take advantage of the law if they were in the position to do so. There is nothing illegal about it and his retirement is not costing the tax payers a penny, that is money already pit aside just like any pension you may have coming.
Sorry for the few typos. Text to speech and didn’t check it.
So tired of these kind of people fleecing the taxpayers. They should be ashamed and if this kind of thing continues it will hurt law biding citizens because it will drive the cost up of police agencies keeping them from hiring additional police. The legislature need to amend this law and clarify it. There are so many LEO’s moving to Idaho from Blue states that are probably qualified to take these positions.
Who wants Californicator LEO’s
Sheriff Wheeler is a retired California cop that collects retirement from California, and now Idaho, while continuing to work in the exact same position he claims to have retired from. Maybe it’s legal, but morally and ethically it is wrong. But these are the values the retired California cop Sheriff Wheeler holds. And he brings them to Idaho.
When these “retired” employees are hired back into their former positions they are not required to pay into PERSI anymore. This is fleecing the system. PERSI loses the ability to collect the funds for that position. The “rehired employee” continues to collect their full salary minus the PERSI contribution deduction while collecting their full retirement from PERSI.
Research before you comment. They still pay into Persi at the same rate and for not a due any extra benefit from it. The retirement being drawn is funded from moneys contributed by the employee and the employer throughout their career. This costs the tax payers nothing.
Then post the job opening. If it in fact costs the tax payers nothing, then post the job opening to make it clear that there is no issue of integrity.
‘Double dipping on taxpayers?’ Sounds like a savings to me.
When you hire a new Sheriff/Police Chief, or whatever, you would pay that new employee a wage along with benefits. This would be in addition to the retired employee, who would be getting their retirement pay along with medical benefits etc, paid by the taxpayers.
In rehiring the well experienced Sheriff/Police Chief, you would only be paying them a wage. Therefore, it would be a taxpayers savings.
Sounds good to me?
Then post the job vacancy to erase the appearance of shenanigans.
I think this practice is beyond a tax payer rip off. The politicians who put this in place should forgo their salaries to pay for this cute little policy. Did my legislators just now see how bad this could be or were they wanting to start setting this up for themselves? Idaho is to good for this little cutie.
Another person commenting with no clue how this actually works. They still pay into Persi but accrue nothing from it. Doesn’t cost the taxpayer anymore than hiring a new person
So the city receives retirement papers from such an important position, yet they don’t post the job vacancy. It must be costing taxpayers something, otherwise why avoid posting the position as open?
Or is the position not important enough to find candidates when you receieve a “legit” reirement?
If they are not building additional PERSI credits (i.e. increasing their pension credits) I don’t see how this is cheating the taxpayer and its a way to increase an experienced officer’s income without increasing cost to the taxpayer. They have earned the pension and presumably are earning their salary.
As I understand it, in Bonner county the taxpayers don’t have to add the 12-15% persi benefits, but the retired person has to pay their percentage in, otherwise this little double dip could bankrupt the PERSI program.
Then post the job vacancy.
Legal but dirty. Just us.
Ha ha Now you know why Caldwell city hall as the Crime family. Mayor lost 1.8 million dollars spent 460k on Meters that was not approved by council. Against the law. Now look above about the so called council president Brad Doty running for mayor. And now you have the rest of the story on councilman Dittenber. Who I mite add is director of Caldwell Housing Authority. Don’t these agencies do background checks?
I believe they should only be allowed to come back after the job has been advertised and they are proven to be the best candidate after an interview process. Because the spirt of the law was to fill spots that were hard to fill. If there were 10 people interested in the job, then they should be allowed to interview for it. But I also think if you retire you have given up all seniority and if they want to come back, they can start at the bottom and work their way back up. They are in essence also stealing rank spots for others to move into seniority and further their careers.
This is hilarious! Former Sheriff Daryl Wheeler might have just screwed up a good thing that unethical politicians and law enforcement officers were taking advantage of. Wheeler ran back from his field trip to Boise where he learned about the retirement scam and decided to try to take advantage of it before the end of the year.
Wheeler announces his plan on the BCSO Facebook page, drawing unwanted attention and shining a bright light on the unethical practice, which in turn brought other people into the spotlight. The key here is they can’t be promised their old jobs back, but they were.
This might end with Wheeler and his buddies having to pay back the benefits they obtained through false pretenses.
Nice job, Daryl!
Why did conservative lawmakers vote for a bill like this? Everyone makes mistakes, but these are the types of loopholes that should have been discussed before voting. Which makes me wonder – should Idaho legislative session be longer, less rushed committee hearings? Should we make legislative pay slightly higher to attract policymakers who can dedicate time to vetting bills? I know a lot of groups were very upset over the thought of higher pay, but clearly lawmakers are spread thin with their regular jobs and missing thorough review with bills like these.
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