Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Ketchum police stand guard at bank

City, FDIC can't explain why extra security is needed at US Bank building

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By TREVON MILLIARD
Express Staff Writer

For the past three weeks, a Ketchum police car has been seen parked outside US Bank on Main Street during business hours as an officer serves as security inside. sohbet film indir film indir forum forum sitesi video izle sohbet Photo by David N. Seelig

A Ketchum police officer has been serving as a security guard at the US Bank office on Main Street for about three weeks. Finding out why has been difficult to uncover.

Police Chief Steve Harkins said the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. hired the department to station one officer there during business hours every day but that he doesn't know what instigated the need for a police presence.

When asked how much FDIC was paying the police department, Harkins said he didn't think that was "pertinent."

Harkins said this kind of thing "isn't uncommon" and was done when the FDIC took over the bank—previously First Bank of Idaho—on April 24, 2009. The takeover occurred when FDIC employees arrived in Ketchum to take control of First Bank of Idaho and its $280 million in retail deposits, eventually selling them to US Bank for about $1.5 million. The FDIC stepped in because of concerns over First Bank of Idaho's lack of cash assets.

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But what's the current threat of confrontation that spurred this contract for services three weeks ago?

The Express called FDIC's US Bank representative Jordan Bradley repeatedly this week to find out why, but never received a call in return. On Tuesday afternoon, the Express was able to reach Bradley, who then referred the reporter to FDIC spokesman Andrew Gray.

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Gray said police are contracted for security in occasions like a bank failure and when caution is needed, but said he doesn't know why caution is needed here. He said he's looking into it but hasn't heard back yet.

Gray said he didn't know how long the police presence will continue.

"Generally speaking, we've always practiced an abundance of caution," he said.

Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com