Officer Willie Cowell honored
September 5, 2012
On August 29, Bonners Ferry Police Chief Steve Benkula presented officer Willie Cowell the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions during a routine traffic stop in March that turned out to be far from routine.
An observant officer who took all the right actions during what started out as a routine traffic stop early March 18 wound up taking eight pounds of heroin off the street with two in custody on felony charges, one of them wanted in California for a double murder. For his actions, Bonners Ferry Police Officer Willie Cowell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal August 29 by Chief Steve Benkula.

According to his award citation, Cowell was nearing the end of his graveyard shift at about 7 a.m. that sleepy Sunday morning when he noticed a brand-new 2012 Ford pickup with no visible registration. He pulled it over at 6697 South Main Street, and as soon as the vehicle stopped, a man came out of the passenger door and made an attempt to open the rear passenger door.

Immediately recognizing the threat, Cowell ordered the man to keep his hands in sight, even while keeping his eye on the driver, who was still inside the truck.

The man outside was visibly nervous and making furtive movements, raising Cowell's level of concern even higher. He called for backup, and kept the two under control until help arrived.

Barbara Willoughby
Once backup arrived, Cowell identified the driver as Barbara Willoughby, but the passenger wouldn't identify himself, nor was he carrying any identification. Both said they were from California, but they told conflicting stories when asked what brought them to Bonners Ferry. Neither could they explain having travelled 1,500 miles with no luggage, changes of clothes or anything else most people who travel carry along.

With nothing adding up, Cowell asked for and was given permission to search the rig, and it didn't take long for a Border Patrol K9 Cowell requested to home in on a backpack. Inside were three vacuum sealed packages, each about the size of a brick, wrapped in cellophane and foil, warranting the arrest of both people, now suspected of trafficking drugs.

Hector Rivera
The contents of those "bricks" turned out to be heroin, 8.1 pounds of it, making it the biggest bust involving the drug in Idaho history. It also turned out that the man in the passenger seat was one Hector Rivera, Los Angeles, who happened to have an outstanding warrant back home for a double homicide.

Because of the scope of the case, federal charges were brought and the case remains under investigation by federal authorities.

While his actions that morning are impressive by any standard, what's more amazing is that Officer Cowell, who served two years as a volunteer reservist with the BFPD, has been on the force full time for less than a year.

"This is a career case for an officer," Benkula said. "It doesn't happen often."

The award was presented during a joint city/county meeting/training session, and Willie received the honor in front of fellow law enforcement officers and around 40 of his friends and family.

Of the seven awards that can be bestowed upon an officer of the Bonners Ferry Police Department, only the Medal of Valor and the Medal of Bravery rank higher.

"Officer Cowell," his citation reads, "because of your tenacity and willingness to take the extra step, you were able to take a dangerous drug and  homicide suspect off of the street. Actions such as this look favorably on the Bonners Ferry Police Department and show your dedication to your profession."

The best part of the story, as any law enforcement professional knows, is that Officer Cowell and everyone else involved were able to go home safely to their families ... well, except for Rivera and Willoughby.

But they, too, are safe, and their families can visit.