Idaho State Police announced last month that a new state trooper has taken up residence in the Wood River Valley and is now on regular patrol in Blaine and Camas counties.
The area has been without a resident ISP officer since 2007. Now, Trooper Daniel Choma will be patrolling roads and highways and providing assistance to other law enforcement agencies in the two counties.
"We are excited about Trooper Choma's presence there," said Lt. Kevin Haight, deputy commander of the Patrol Division for ISP Region 4, headquartered in Jerome. "The citizens and law enforcement agencies of Blaine and Camas counties deserve ISP presence in their communities.
"His presence can enhance the fantastic service the local agencies already provide, and more importantly, when ISP is needed in the Camas Prairie or Wood River Valley, our response time can be shortened significantly."
Haight said Choma will be "working traffic, crash investigations and enforcement, but he will also be able to assist local agencies in whatever needs they have."
Haight said Choma may occasionally assist ISP Investigations in drug enforcement in the area.
Choma will mainly patrol Blaine and Camas counties but may occasionally work as far north as Custer County or as far south as Lincoln and Jerome counties.
According to an ISP press release, Choma is originally from New Jersey but has family in the area. He is an experienced pilot, having worked as a flight instructor and a commercial airline pilot. Choma enjoys sports, especially hockey.
"I want to make the northern part of Region 4 a safer area for the motoring public," Choma stated in the news release.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Trooper Daniel Choma
