Someone is slumped over the wheel of their vehicle. They don’t appear to be moving and you aren’t sure how long they’ve been there. They haven’t necessarily done anything wrong, but you are worried for their safety — so you call the police.
According to the Moscow Police Department’s Daily Activity Log, this call — which happened at 1:20 p.m; Feb. 27 — counts as a “welfare check.” Although not as frequent as calls about crime or traffic accidents, MPD responds to welfare checks, civil calls and suicidal person calls.
“A welfare check generally starts with someone in the public expressing a concern about someone else in the public and not having the ability to access that person themselves,” said Roger Lanier, MPD captain. “Maybe they’re driving by and don’t feel comfortable stopping, they’re in a completely different location or they saw something on social media.”
According to Idaho State Police Public Information Officer Tim Marsano, welfare checks are typically handled by local police departments or county sheriffs. Lanier said MPD handles parking, animal control, noise complaints, snow control and other local issues.
Latah County Sheriff (LCS) Operations Lieutenant Brannon Jordan said their office enforces Idaho law and handles security around the court system and jails. Marsano said ISP provides law enforcement services, like MPD and LCS, on a statewide level.
Welfare checks help the police get resources to a person who may need them, Lanier said. He highlighted the importance of access to mental health resources for depressed and suicidal children and teenagers who may not feel comfortable talking to their parents.
“There are certain vulnerable people within our society,” Marsano said. “Whether (they are) in an abusive domestic situation, for example, or someone who has difficulty looking out for themselves who may need the assistance of a law enforcement agency.”
Jordan also said that on some welfare checks, LCS has helped elderly citizens that had injured themselves and couldn’t get to a phone. Jordan said LCS finds that sometimes the community members they have been called to check on have passed away.
“I’ve done numerous welfare checks where I’ve done to a residence to check on the welfare of an elderly resident and they’re deceased,” Jordan said. “(Welfare checks) are extremely important. We do them all the time. Occasionally it turns out that it’s a good thing someone called us.”
Lanier said he wishes the community was more aware of the education and community support side of policework. He said the police provides information and resources to the public on general safety, driving issues, what to do during active shooter situations and more. Jordan added that LCS works with Alternatives to Violence on the Palouse to provide additional resources and support for the community.
“There’s a segment of the citizenry that thinks our job is to catch people doing something wrong and go write them a ticket,” Lanier said. “We’re very much on the education side of things first. If we can resolve an issue, we’ll do that. We’re problem solvers first and enforcement second.”
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]