Boise police chief will not be criminally charged after allegation he broke officer’s neck
Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee will not be criminally charged after an investigation into his actions at a morning briefing in October, Idaho State Police said.
Lee in a tort claim was accused of breaking a high-ranking officer’s neck and causing “serious and significant injuries” during the briefing. Sgt. Kirk Rush, who has been with the department for nearly 18 years, in the claim said Lee had grabbed the back of his neck and forced him “toward the ground” at the front of the room.
The Clearwater County Prosecutor’s Office, which had been assigned to recommend potential charges against Lee, said it had reviewed “the investigation results of a briefing incident,” according to a news release from state police. Idaho State Police conducted the investigation into the allegations.
“I believe this investigation has been taken as far as possible,” Clearwater Prosecutor Clayne Tyler said in the release. “I recommend at this point in time against filing a criminal charge.”
During the investigation, detectives interviewed Rush, Lee, other witnesses and gathered evidence, according to the release. Rush didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
”We are glad to see this investigation come to a close,” Maria Weeg, a spokesperson for the city of Boise, told the Idaho Statesman in an email.
In Idaho, parties must file tort claims before filing lawsuits. After a tort is filed, agencies have 90 days to either accept or deny a claim. If a claim is denied — or not responded to — the party can sue.
Rush’s tort claim was filed in April, meaning that the 90-day deadline has passed. A court records search did not locate recent lawsuits involving Lee or Rush. A lawyer representing Rush could not immediately be reached for comment.
A spokesperson for Boise Police, Haley Williams, confirmed Rush is still employed with the department but declined to comment further. A spokesperson for Idaho State Police, Aaron Snell, also declined to comment.
Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts requested that Clearwater County review the investigation and make the recommendation on criminal charges because of the “potential conflict of interest in working with the city of Boise,” the release said.
State police in the release said it is “standard protocol” for an outside agency to review “potential criminal conduct.”
This story was originally published August 31, 2022 at 2:42 PM.
