Idaho Troopers Flee to Washington for Higher Wages

Idaho State Police struggle to retain officers as neighboring Washington agencies offer significantly higher pay

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:09pm

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A fractured, abstract painting depicting an Idaho State Police vehicle in motion, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of dark blue, forest green, and gunmetal grey, conveying a sense of instability and urgency.The exodus of Idaho State Police troopers to higher-paying jobs in Washington exposes the staffing crisis facing the agency and the need for the state to address the pay disparity.Lewiston Today

Idaho State Police are facing a staffing crisis as troopers leave for higher-paying jobs with the Washington State Patrol and Spokane Police Department. The agency has lost around 40 troopers in recent years, with all positions in the Lewiston area now vacant. Idaho State Police Director Col. Bill Gardiner says the pay gap is the main driver, with Washington troopers earning around $60 per hour compared to $32.86 for Idaho troopers with similar experience.

Why it matters

The trooper shortage is impacting public safety in Idaho, as the state police are unable to respond to calls for assistance from local law enforcement agencies. This highlights the challenge of retaining officers in a competitive regional job market and the need for Idaho to address the pay disparity to maintain an adequate state police force.

The details

Idaho State Police troopers are leaving for higher-paying jobs with the Washington State Patrol and Spokane Police Department, which offer around $60 per hour for officers with 5 years of experience compared to $32.86 per hour in Idaho. This pay gap has led to a staffing crisis, with all Idaho State Police trooper positions in the Lewiston area now vacant. Idaho State Police Director Col. Bill Gardiner says the agency is having to send troopers from across the state to cover the Lewiston region, costing around $10,000 per month. Gardiner has proposed an $18 million budget increase to raise trooper pay to around $45 per hour, but legislative efforts to increase vehicle registration fees to fund the pay raise have stalled.

  • In the past few years, the Washington State Patrol and Spokane Police Department have hired at least 5 former Idaho State Police troopers.
  • As of now, all Idaho State Police trooper positions in the Lewiston area are vacant.

The players

Col. Bill Gardiner

Director of the Idaho State Police, who has been working to address the trooper shortage and pay disparity.

Sen. Jim Woodward

Idaho Republican senator who proposed a bill to raise vehicle registration fees to increase funding for the Idaho State Police, but the bill stalled in the House.

Rep. Joe Palmer

Republican chairman of the Idaho House Transportation Committee, who did not advance Woodward's bill and instead introduced alternative legislation to allocate a smaller amount of funding to the Idaho State Police.

Chris Loftis

Spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol, which has hired 5 former Idaho State Police troopers in the past 2 years.

Officer Tricia Leming

Spokesperson for the Spokane Police Department, which has hired at least one former Idaho State Police officer every year since 2018 except 2024-2025.

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What they’re saying

“We get called on a daily basis from cities and counties around the state for assistance. When they run out of resources, their next call is to me. What I don't like is when a sheriff calls and says, 'Can you get me troopers here immediately?' And I have to say, 'I can't. I don't have anybody.' What kind of a state service is that?”

— Col. Bill Gardiner, Director, Idaho State Police

“We have an identified problem. We are not paying our troopers enough. That is a public safety issue. If we are going to tax someone, we want to make a strong connection between the money and the service provided. If anyone that has a vehicle pitches in, you are paying for the officers you see on the road. From a policy perspective, that makes sense to me.”

— Sen. Jim Woodward, Idaho Republican Senator

“When the gas tax was phased out, there was a promise we'd take care of ISP. We are not living up to that promise. There is a general unwillingness to raise a fee or tax. You can make arguments about the fee, but I think it really came down to the politics. There is a primary coming up in May.”

— Sen. Jim Woodward, Idaho Republican Senator

What’s next

The Idaho legislature will need to address the trooper pay disparity to retain officers and maintain adequate state police coverage. Proposals to increase vehicle registration fees or allocate more funding from the general fund will likely be revisited in the next legislative session.

The takeaway

The exodus of Idaho State Police troopers to higher-paying jobs in neighboring Washington highlights the challenge of retaining public safety personnel in a competitive regional job market. Addressing the pay gap is crucial for Idaho to maintain an effective state police force and ensure adequate emergency response capabilities across the state.