Local probation officers recognized

Jessica Poston and Stacy Brown

Brown, who began as juvenile probation officer here November 4, 2008, and was promoted to chief probation officer when Jackie Bacon retired May 3, 2010, was named the Idaho Juvenile Justice Association District 1 administrator of the year, and Poston, who began with the department May 26, 2010, was named the association’s District 1 line worker of the year.

“I’m very proud of my department,” Stacy said. “It’s a team effort, and we have an excellent crew.”

Jessica, who graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 2004 and went on to earn a degree in social work from Lewis and Clark State College, said she wasn’t expecting to be so honored.

“It came as a surprise,” she said. “I was just doing my job.”

In fact, she feels fortunate, she said, to be able to work in her home town.

“I was looking for the opportunity to work with troubled youth and youth facing drug and alcohol addictions,” she said. “I was fortunate that just such a job opened up in my home town!”

County commission chair Ron Smith, who serves on the recently formed Idaho Misdemeanor Planning Committee and the Misdemeanor Training Council, lauded their achievement, the first of their kind in Boundary County.

“I was appointed to these boards at about the same time Stacy became chief probation officer, and it’s great to see how much progress has been made, and how well our people are doing,” he said. “Every member of the probation department is now, for the first time, POST certified, and Stacy did so well she’s now an instructor at the academy. It’s great to see them get such recognition for the dedication they bring to their jobs, and the entire department deserves credit.