A screenshot from a YouTube video showing a Pocatello police officer sleeping behind a desk while on duty at a substation.

By Shelbie Harris, sharris@journalnet.com

POCATELLO — A video posted on YouTube showing a Pocatello police officer sleeping behind a desk while on duty at the Fred Meyer Substation has sparked an internal investigation.

“The Pocatello Police Department is aware of the video and the investigation is ongoing,” said Chief Scott Marchand in a Monday statement. “As this is a personnel matter, we cannot release any more information.”

The video, which had over 2,400 views as of Monday evening, depicts an officer, whose name has not been released, who appears to be sleeping with his patrol car running outside. But Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said the video doesn’t tell the entire story.

“The other side is that there are times when an officer works an entire night shift and has to be back into court early the same day,” Nielsen said. “I’d rather have somebody (sleeping) in an office than I would out in a car or (working) sleep deprived.”

Without knowing the extenuating circumstances, viewers are left speculating why the officer may have been sleeping. While he doesn’t condone sleeping on the job, Nielsen said several scenarios in addition to long hours could have been a factor.

“Shift work is very difficult, especially when husbands and fathers are trying to balance a family life,” Nielsen said. “That being said, we certainly don’t want anyone sleeping on duty, but I have no problem with them taking time to get a quick catnap to get back on top.”

Pocatello Police Capt. Roger Schei said patrolmen typically work at least 10 hours on the day and night shifts, and those on the swing shift work 12 hours from 3:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

Nielsen said deputies with the sheriff’s office work four 10-hour shifts with three days off, adding those on the swing shift work from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Unlike many traditional hourly jobs, a police officer’s shift does not always end according to the schedule.

“Our shifts are about 10 hours but they certainly don’t go home when the whistle blows,” Nielsen said. “For instance, a guy may take a call around 2 a.m. that lasts until 4 a.m. and we also sometimes call people in for the SWAT Team and specialty DUI and seatbelt enforcement services, which is extra on top of their shifts.”

Chad Horst, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said that as a swing shift supervisor he would rather have officers take a 15-minute nap then crash a $50,000 vehicle.

“I wished he would have done it somewhere that was safer and out of sight,” Horst said.

Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland said that in some cases an officer may work 16-18 hours straight. Then, rather than going home for a full night’s rest, they are required back in court hours later.

“People need to realize that we work long hours,” Rowland said. “When officers have to turn around and come back the next morning or the next night it’s really difficult, especially if they are raising a family and have kids.”

“They may get a hot call or a DUI at 1:30 a.m. and they don’t get to just make the arrest and go home,” Rowland said. “We require that everybody completes the necessary preliminary court paperwork so that the individual can be arraigned in court the next day. So sometimes they get an hour nap.”

Rowland added that he sympathizes with the officers and deputies who work grave shifts, adding that several other factors could have contributed to this particular scenario involving the Pocatello police.

“Does he have a second job?” Rowland said. “We don’t get paid a lot so many of my guys work second jobs in construction or security up at the hospital.”

Idaho State Police Capt. Eric Dayley said that it’s not uncommon to call off-duty officers in when responding to calls such as fatality vehicle crashes, homicides or large wildfires. Though it doesn’t happen often, Dayley said some officers are called in while on vacation.

“Our officers do get vacation,” Dayley said. “Typically, we don’t call them out for an emergency when they are on vacation. But there have been times in my career where I was on vacation and was called in to assist with an investigation.”

While the video owner, Pete Anestos, declined to comment, several citizens defended the police officer on social media. One individual said they would have called 911 to check on the officer’s well-being.

“The video owner doesn’t care about anything else,” Rowland said. “He saw what he perceived as an officer sleeping, he didn’t care if he is okay. All he wanted to do is put him on social media. But again there is always two sides to the story.”