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Hailey Police Officers

Mini Bios

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Hailey Police Department

Hailey Police Officers

Mini Bios

Chief of Police Jeff Gunter
Assistant Police Chief Dave Stellers
Lieutenant Steve J. England
Sergeant Derek Stewart
Patrol Officer and School Resource Officer
Support Staff and Part Time Police Officers
- Police Office Manager Christina Leos
- Part Time Airport Police Officer Lee Frost

Chief of Police Jeff Gunter

Jeff came to the Wood River Valley from Pocatello in 1988. He worked as a grocery store manager and was a Coca-Cola Distribution Center Manager before taking a job as a patrolman with the Hailey Police Department in 1990. In January of 1995, Jeff was promoted to Sergeant and resigned that position in May of 1998 to become the Bellevue Marshal for the Bellevue Marshal's Office. While working as the Bellevue Marshal, Jeff also served as the City Administrator for the City of Bellevue. In November of 2000 Jeff returned to the Hailey Police Department as a Lieutenant. In July of 2007, Jeff took on the role as Interim Police Chief and on October 23rd, 2007 Jeff was appointed to be Hailey’s Police Chief. Jeff has over 28 years of managerial experience and has been a leader for the Hailey Police Department for many years. Jeff has been happily married to his wife Gloria for eleven years and looks forward to serving the citizens of Hailey as their Police Chief.

Assistant Police Chief Dave Stellers

Dave was born and raised in Ohio and is an avid "Buckeye" fan. After graduating from high school, Dave enlisted with the United States Marine Corps where he spent the next eight years. After his discharge from the United States Marine Corps, Dave was hired by the San Diego Police Department where he worked for 3 years. Dave was hired by the Hailey Police Department in 1993 and served as a patrolman and detective before being promoted to Lieutenant in January of 2001. In October, 2007 Dave was promoted to his current position as the Hailey Police Department’s Assistant Chief.

Lieutenant Steve J. England

Steve was born and raised in Pocatello where he graduated from high school in 1993. After high school, Steve enlisted in the United States Navy where he served as an aviation electrician working on F/A-18 fighter jets. After serving with the United States Navy for 3 years, Steve returned to Pocatello and attended the Idaho State University Law Enforcement Program. After successfully completing the program, Steve was hired by the Bellevue Marshal's Office in May of 1998, where he worked as a patrolman for approximately 3 years. Steve was hired by the Hailey Police Department in February of 2001. In April of 2005 Steve was promoted to the rank of Sergeant after serving as a Patrol Officer and School Resource Officer. In October, 2007 Steve was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. As well as being a Lieutenant, Steve is also a Field Training Officer. Steve is the department's TASER, O.C. (pepper spray), and Active Shooter instructor. Steve also handles the duties as the departments Investigator for larger cases.

Sergeant Derek Stewart

Derek was born and raised in Nevada where he graduated from White Pine High School in 1998. After graduating from high school, Derek took a year off from school before attending the College of Southern Idaho Law Enforcement Program. Derek graduated from the College of Southern Idaho in May of 2001 and was hired by the Ketchum Police Department in September of 2001. Derek spent 4 ½ years with the Ketchum Police Department, working both as a Patrol Officer and Canine Officer. In 2006 Derek made the move south and came to work for the Hailey Police Department. In September of 2007, Derek successfully completed several months of training from the DRE (Drug Recognition Expert) program, and currently is the only certified DRE in the Wood River Valley. In October, 2007 Derek was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is currently the weekend supervisor, in charge of the patrol division. As well as being a Sergeant, Derek also serves as a Field Training Officer.

Patrol Officer and School Resource Officer

Patrol Officer Raul Ornelas

Raul was born in Chula Vista, California and moved with his family to Idaho in 1979. Raul was raised in the Wood River Valley and graduated from the Wood River High School in 1994. Raul began his Law Enforcement career when he was hired by the Camas County Sheriff's Office in March of 2001, where he worked for a little over a year. Raul came to work for the Hailey Police Department in May of 2002 where he served with the Airport Police division for a short time before being moved to the patrol division. Raul is the department's firearms instructor as well as an Active Shooter instructor. Raul is also one of the departments Field Training Officers, responsible for training newly hired officers. Raul is used quite extensively as one of the department's translators and is known for his strong connections with the citizens of Hailey.

Patrol Officer Shelly Pharis

Shelly was born in Amarillo, Texas and moved to Idaho with her family in 1997 where she graduated from Blackfoot High School in 2002. After graduating high school, Shelly attended the Idaho State University Law Enforcement Program where she graduated in May of 2005. While at Idaho State University, Shelly was noted for her excellent academic abilities by being placed on the Dean's List. Shelly also received an award from the Law Enforcement Program for her excellent shooting abilities with a pistol. Shortly after graduating college, Shelly began her Law Enforcement career with the Bellevue Marshal's Office where she worked for approximately 6 months, before being hired as the first female officer by the Hailey Police Department in November of 2005. Shelly is well known for her work ethic and strong desire to help the community that she serves.

Patrol and School Resource Officer Manuel "Manny" Ornelas

Manuel was born in Fallbrook, California in 1979 and moved to the Wood River Valley with his family when he was 3 months old. Manuel graduated from Wood River High School in 1998 and went to work for local businesses before becoming a Police Officer with the Hailey Police Department in September of 2005. After being hired by HPD, Manuel attended and successfully completed the Idaho Post Academy. Manuel, like his older brother Raul, is used quite extensively by the department as a translator. Manuel is currently working as the School Resource Officer, as well as a Patrol Officer during the summer months.

Patrol Officer Jameson Sharp

Jameson was born and raised in Twin Falls and graduated from Twin Falls High School in May of 2004. During Jameson's senior year of high school he made the decision to be a police officer, and after graduation attended the College of Southern Idaho Law Enforcement Program. In the spring of 2005 Jameson graduated from the College of Southern Idaho and was hired by the Ketchum Police Department in September of 2005 at the young age of 19. Jameson stayed with the Ketchum Police Department for a short time before being hired by the Hailey Police Department in April of 2006.

Patrol Officer Aaron Nay

Aaron was born in Ventura, California and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana when he was 5 years old. Aaron desired to become a Police Officer from a very young age, stemming from his father’s ambitions to become a Police Officer. Aaron lived in Indianapolis until he was 12 years old. Aaron then moved to Twin Falls, Idaho with his family and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 2004. After high school, Aaron attended the College of Southern Idaho Law Enforcement Program, where he graduated from in the fall of 2006. While attending college, Aaron made the Dean’s list and finished 2nd in his class in pistol qualification. Also while attending college, Aaron was an Explorer Cadet with the Twin Falls Police Department, and participated in ride-a-longs, special event assistance and community service events. After graduating from college, Aaron began his Law Enforcement career with the Hailey Police Department in August of 2006. Aaron is happily married and enjoys fishing, snowboarding, shooting and golf in his free time.

Patrol Officer Larry Clark

Larry was born and raised in Northern Idaho. After high school, Larry enlisted with the United States Navy where he spent twenty years. After Larry’s military commitment ended, he moved to Eagle, Idaho where he worked for The Home Depot for three years before deciding to get into Law Enforcement. Larry was self sponsored in the Idaho POST Academy. After graduating from the Idaho POST Academy, Larry was hired by the Sun Valley Police Department where he worked for four years. Larry was hired by the Hailey Police Department in 2007 and serves as a patrolman.

Patrol Officer Garth Davis

Garth was born in Hillsboro, Oregon and moved to his family’s farm in Idaho Falls when he was 2 years old. After high school, Garth spent a short time in the United States Army and began the search for what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. In the back of Garth’s mind, he always thought a career in Law Enforcement was the direction he wanted to go. In 2002, Garth was volunteering his time as a volunteer firefighter, when he met the Chief of Police for the City of Ucon. After a short while, Garth became a Reserve Officer with the Ucon Police Department and in July of 2005, became a certified Level One Reserve Officer. While working as a Reserve Officer, Garth made the decision he wanted to start a career in Law Enforcement and become a certified officer. In December of 2005, Garth was hired by the Bellevue Marshal’s Office and in June of 2006 graduated from the Idaho POST Academy. Garth worked for the Bellevue Marshal’s Office until June of 2007, when he was hired by the Hailey Police Department. Garth is an officer that loves his job and lives by the saying, “If you find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life." Garth has been happily married for 13 years.

Patrol Officer Charles Cox

Charles was born in Alaska at Elmendorf Air Force Base in 1984. As Charles was growing up, he spent a lot of time moving from base to base with his family, as his father continued his career as a Combat Engineer for the Air Force. In 2003, Charles moved to the Wood River Valley and began working construction for local companies. On December 12, 2005 Charles was hired by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Deputy and graduated from the Idaho POST Detention Academy on November 10th, 2006. On November 26th, 2007 Charles was hired by the Hailey Police Department, completing his dream to become a patrol officer. Charles looks forward to his new position as a patrol officer and serving the citizens of Hailey.

Airport Police Officer Paul Brown

Paul was hired by the Hailey Police Department in August of 2004. Prior to coming to work for the Hailey Police Department Paul served with the Gooding Police Department for over 28 years. Paul spent his last 11 years with the Gooding Police Department as Chief of Police. Paul earned both a Vocational Technical Degree and an Associate of Arts Degree from the College of Southern Idaho. Paul has over 2,000 training hours from the Idaho POST Academy. Paul has been married to his wife, Donna, for over 28 years and they have two grown children. Paul is currently assigned to the Airport Police Contingent.

Airport Police Officer Lauren Lee Edgerton

Lauren was born in 1962 and raised in South Bend, Indiana. Lauren began her Law Enforcement career at the young age of 19, serving as a Code Enforcement Officer in Aspen, Colorado. Lauren loved working for a Police Department, and after serving for 5 years as a Code Enforcement Officer, made the decision to become a Police Officer. In 1988 Lauren moved to Idaho and was hired by the Ketchum Police Department in 1989. Lauren graduated from the Idaho POST Academy the same year she was hired and continued to work for the Ketchum Police Department for 15 years. While working for the Ketchum Police Department, Lauren was promoted to the rank of Investigator and says she loved every minute of her job. In 2004, Lauren resigned from the Ketchum Police Department to spend more time with her two children. In 2006, Lauren decided she could no longer stay away from Law Enforcement, and in June of 2006 she was hired by the Hailey Police Department. Lauren is currently assigned to the Airport Police Contingent.

Support Staff and Part Time Police Officers

Police Office Manager Christina Leos

Christina was raised in Paramount, California where she graduated from Paramount High School in 2000. Christina moved to Hailey in May of 2002 with her husband Jorge and two twin boys, Dominick and Fabian. Christina began working for the City of Hailey in June of 2002 with the Finance and Records Department where she worked for 3 years before transferring to the Hailey Police Department in May of 2005. Christina made the move to the police department because of her desire to be involved in Law Enforcement and is quoted as saying, "I love the officers and everything that goes with this position." Christina handles all the administrative office duties and is used quite frequently as an interpreter for the department. Christina also helps with the Traffic School Class that is offered by the department for citizens.

Part Time Airport Police Officer Lee Frost

Lee was born in Boise and has spent his entire life living in Idaho. Lee graduated from Boise State University with degrees in Biology and Criminal Justice. Lee moved to the Wood River Valley in 1972 where he spent the next 29 years serving as a Conservation Officer for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Lee retired from the State of Idaho in 2001. Lee is currently assigned to the Airport Police Contingent.