An intriguing factoid, from today’s Idaho Statesman:
“Unlike many Treasure Valley and Idaho cities that experienced a drop in crime in 2005, felony cases in fast-growing Eagle rose about 13 percent, mirroring the city’s population growth for the same time period.”
A lot of these, the story makes clear, are not violent crimes, but rather theft of credit cards and money. Still: What makes Eagle different?
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Could it be that their former Mayor, and current Ada County Commission Chair, Rick Yzaguirre admitted to committing one or more(“alleged”) felonies of similar nature involving tens of thousands of dollars of Idaho Lottery, Fish and Game and State Sales tax receipts but was apparently immune from prosecution?
Idaho Code 18-5701 reads, in part, “18-5701. MISUSE OF PUBLIC MONEY BY OFFICERS. Each officer of this state,
or of any county, city, town or district of this state, and every other person
charged with the receipt, safekeeping, transfer or disbursement of public
moneys, who:
(1) Without authority of law, appropriates the same or any portion
thereof to his own use, or to the use of another; or
(2) Loans the same or any portion thereof; or, having the possession or
control of any public money, makes a profit out of, or uses the same for any
purpose not authorized by law; or
(3) Fails to keep the same in his possession until disbursed or paid out
by authority of law; or…
(9) Willfully omits to transfer the same when such transfer is required
by law; or
(10) Willfully omits or refuses to pay over to any officer or person
authorized by law to receive the same, any money received by him under any
duty imposed by law so to pay over the same; or…
Is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than one (1)
year nor more than ten (10) years, and is disqualified from holding any office
in this state.”
And you wonder why the PUBLIC violates similar laws?!
I think you said it, “fast growing Eagle.” My experience with boom towns it that there’s a strong lack of connection with the town and thus less compunction.