Longtime Hailey officer sworn in by Mayor Burke
By Eric Valentine
It didn’t take long for the City of Hailey to replace its retiring—and under investigation—police chief. Hailey Mayor Martha Burke swore in Hailey Assistant Chief Steve England to take the office of Chief of Police Monday night.
England has been filling the duties of Chief since Jan. 29, after now-former Chief Jeff Gunter was placed on paid administrative leave in connection with an Idaho State Police investigation stemming from an anonymous—and undisclosed—allegation. Gunter officially retired late last month.
England has served 22 years in law enforcement. He began his career with the Bellevue Marshal’s Office, and was hired by the Hailey Police Department in early 2001 as a patrol officer and later was assigned as a school resource officer, an investigator, and then promoted to sergeant. He taught traffic school, too. By 2007, he was promoted to lieutenant, taking on operational chief duties. He has served as assistant chief of the department since November 2018.
England has succeeded in the past month in securing the hire of two officers into the HPD, flattening the command hierarchy, and planning to operate with three command staff—the chief and two sergeants—rather than the five-member command staff of the past. The first two hires are lined up to start in May and June.
“My biggest job is to keep the ship riding smoothly,” England said. “I feel morale is upbeat and fingers crossed we may have 14 officers sworn in by the end of October if all goes as planned.”
Mayor Burke is evaluating the pay scale of the Hailey Police Department staff, and will reassign wages for the second half of the fiscal year beginning in April for qualifying personnel. England’s salary will be determined in that effort, based on budget considerations relative to his qualifications and experience. His current salary as assistant chief has been $86,840.
“I am honored beyond belief to have been chosen to help lead such an amazing group of law enforcement professionals such as those within the Hailey Police Department. I look forward to this next endeavor in my career and our department’s future together. We got this and thank you all,” England said.