BLACKFOOT — Throughout most of his career, Police Chief Gordon Croft never had his eyes set on the top spot in the department; he simply worked to be the best officer he could be.

During his 26 years as part of the Blackfoot Police Department, Croft continued his education through the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training program, which allowed him to serve in high-level positions, including the department’s drug recognition expert and a member of its SWAT Team.

He also received the designation of range master from POST and served as the Blackfoot Police Department’s primary firearms instructor for a period. Croft said his attitude toward continuing education was all about remaining up to date on the latest information and changes in law enforcement.

“I have always wanted to stay sharp,” he said. “I wanted to be proficient in my job.”

Most recently, Croft met another of his goals when, on March 16, he received the executive certification from Idaho POST, one of its highest certifications.

“Executive certification in Idaho is something that only elected sheriffs or appointed police chiefs with at least three years in that position can earn,” Croft said.

Cassandra Thigpen, certifications manager for Idaho POST in Meridian, said only heads of law enforcement agencies can earn the executive certification. She said many will try because it is considered a prestigious accomplishment in the law enforcement community.

The executive certification is only available to those who have served as a head of an agency for a minimum of three years, have already earned an advanced or management certification, and have completed 100 hours of training at their 800-level tier. Thigpen said 50 of those hours have to be completed within the three years previous to that person earning the executive certification.

She did say that POST doesn’t award that many executive certifications.

“A lot of agency heads will strive for that certification, but they have to be in the position for three years, so some don’t make it,” Thigpen said. “We awarded seven of them in 2025.”

Adding to the difficulty and time it can take to accomplish the requirements is the availability of 800-level courses, POST’s top level of training. Some of the courses have to be sought outside Idaho POST, but they must be approved prior to the individual taking the course toward the executive certification.

Croft understands firsthand why so few get the certification, but it was a goal he set when he became police chief in June of 2022.

“When you get to be a police chief or a sheriff, you are so busy dealing with everything that the job demands, it’s hard to spend the time on something like that,” he said. “I would definitely say I wanted to get it.”

With his goal accomplished and nearly four years under his belt as chief of the Blackfoot Police Department, Croft announced his retirement earlier this month. He said he’s just ready to make family his primary priority.

“My wife has dealt with my late-night call-outs, late-night phone calls, long shifts, not knowing if I am going to be home for Christmas,” Croft said. “I owe it to her to make her number one again.”

They have a number of grandchildren, and Croft said that is the one thing in life that gives him the most joy — spending time with them. His last day is April 20, and he also plans to spend some time down in Utah, with his brothers, working on their parents’ home, giving it some much-needed updating.

As he prepares to leave the department, he considers what he believes is one of the most successful aspects of his leadership in Blackfoot, officer and employee retention.

“We probably have the lowest turnover rate in Idaho,” he said. “During my four years, we have only had four positions turnover and two of those retired.”

One of the other two left the department because she wanted to move back to Washington state, where her family is. Croft won’t take all the credit for the department’s success.

“I have a fantastic command staff, I have a great office manager, I have had amazing employees,” he said. “I have to shine a light on them because they make the department run so well.”