Twin Falls May Have a New Police Chief

TWIN FALLS, Idaho ( KMVT / KSVT ) Officials from Twin Falls have announced they have a single finalist who is expected to lead the city’s police department. Craig Kingbury who currently serves as the Chief of Police for the Nampa Police Department was selected out of a group of fifteen candidates.

Kingsbury will need to successfully complete the city’s hiring process. The City has started the final step in the hiring process, which is an intensive evaluation of Kingsbury’s background. The City will announce its final decision after the evaluation is completed. He will also need to be approved by the City Council.

“During the initial interview phase it became apparent that Craig Kingsbury was head and shoulders above the others,” said Travis Rothweiler, Twin Falls City Manager. “So it did not make sense to continue the process any further.”

Kingsbury has an extensive background in law enforcement and leadership. He has served the Nampa Police Department for more than 24 years — including nearly three years as the Chief of Police. He also has taught Criminal Justice as an adjunct professor at Boise State University, where he also earned a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration.

Kingsbury is married to Loretta Kingsbury and they have three grown children.

The City of Twin Falls received applications from interested individuals throughout Idaho and the United States. That applicant pool was narrowed down to seven candidates based on their qualifications in law enforcement, leadership, and community involvement. The candidates were interviewed in person or via Skype by a team of individuals comprised of members from the city’s executive staff and city council.

“We were fortunate to receive interest from so many talented and experienced individuals, who we believe demonstrated strong leadership and community engagement,” Rothweiler said. “However, Kingsbury was identified by our team as someone who not only possessed those qualities, but also as someone who shares our unique organizational philosophy of collaboration and innovation.”

The application process was the second in almost a year, after Brian Pike, who served as the Police Chief for five years, assumed the position of Deputy City Manager of Public Safety for the City of Twin Falls in November 2014. Bryan Krear, a veteran of the Twin Falls Police Department, has been serving as the Interim Police Chief.

The City said during the first interview process launched in January 2015 that it had high expectations, and that it would take the time necessary to find the right individual to lead the Twin Falls Police Department.

“We’re not looking for someone to continue what we have been doing in the past, but rather someone who can apply their own unique skills to lead the department in an environment that is constantly evolving,” said Brian Pike, Deputy City Manager of Public Safety. “Finding that individual has not been easy, but we believe that Kingsbury has the experience and skills to succeed in that endeavor.”