New Leadership at Idaho State Police

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho State Police has a pair of new leaders. Thirty-year ISP veteran Ralph Powell was appointed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter last month to succeed Col. Jerry Russell as the agency's director.

Powell began his law enforcement career as a Boise police officer in 1983 before joining the state police. He has served as acting director since Russell retired in January and has been elevated in rank to colonel.

Powell has also picked Kedrick Wills to serve as deputy director. Wills started out his law enforcement career by joining his hometown police department of Glenns Ferry in 1994. He spent time on the Nampa police force and joined ISP in 1996. Wills also served in the Magic Valley for a number of years in Region 4.