ISA & IJAA Spring Conference Recap 2024

The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) and the Idaho Jail Administrators Association (IJAA) met for their 2024 Spring Conference from April 15 – 17 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. This conference brought together Idaho’s sheriffs, deputies, and jail administrators from counties across Idaho for roundtable discussions, business meetings, and job-specific training.

The keynote presentation: A Crisis in Your Jail: How to be Open, Effective, and Transparent in Your Communications was given by Laura Cole, President of Cole Pro Media and Avery Essick, Transparency Engagement Advisor of Cole Pro Media.

Subject-matter experts provided workshops on various topics, including OffenderWatch: Sex Offender Registration, Sheriff App Training, Ivy Correctional Medicine, C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors), Recruit & Retention, and Permitium: Case Study. 

On Tuesday night, attendees enjoyed a cruise and dinner reception on Lake Coeur d’Alene sponsored by Summit Correctional Services, NCIC, and CTEL. While on the water, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) marine division collaborated with multiple units to provide an action-packed demo for attendees. The KCSO SWAT Team and the K-9 Unit, assisted by their all-volunteer Aviations Unit, demonstrated their protocol for apprehending an escapee from an adjoining county jail. The adrenaline-inducing demo featured a hot pursuit of the “escapee” on jet skis and with the official sheriff’s boat at full throttle. A helicopter also flew in to assist with the capture before the suspect was apprehended on land utilizing the K-9 Unit. The demonstration served as an educational opportunity for sheriffs and their staff in attendance and allowed KCSO specialty units to log training hours while practicing and showcasing their tactical skills.

Executive Director of the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, Jeff Lavey, stated, “This conference is a fine example of ‘we are stronger in numbers’ as we promote the Office of Sheriff throughout the great state of Idaho.”

Save the date for the ISA & IJAA Annual Conference & New Sheriffs School December 9 – 13, 2024 at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. 

To see the full photo album from the conference and download pictures, visit IAC’s Flickr page.