Huff steps into top slot in Fruitland
Longtime area policeman sworn in Monday night

By Larry Hurrle
Argus Observer
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:10 PM PDT

Fruitland Mayor Tom Limbaugh (right) administers the oath of office to incoming Fruitland Police Chief J.D. Huff Monday night during a brief ceremony at the Fruitland City Council chambers. More than 75 people attended the Fruitland City Council meeting, where the council approved the mayoral nomination of Huff as the new chief. Huff has been with the Fruitland Police Department for eight years.

FRUITLAND — After operating for more than a year without a chief of police in the office, the Fruitland Police Department has changed — at least in hierarchy.

Monday the Fruitland City Council Monday officially named J.D. Huff as the new Fruitland chief of police and swore the Fruitland native into office.

Huff takes over for retired Chief Rick Skelly. Skelly left the force on medical leave in August 2008, and officially retired as Fruitland chief of police Aug. 16. Fruitland City Administrator Rick Watkins had been serving in the capacity as interim department head since Skelly’s departure.

“I’m very excited,” Huff said Monday. “I’m looking forward to becoming a full-staff police department. My goal is to get involved in the community. We will be a very community-oriented police department. This is a small community, and people need to trust us.”

Huff is no stranger to the Fruitland Police Department having served eight years on the force before being named chief. The 38-year-old worked his way up through the ranks as a detective, detective sergeant, captain and finally chief.

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“I think the community can expect good things from us,” Huff said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Huff said Fruitland currently has six officers on staff, but a fully-staffed department will consist of nine officers, including the chief.

“I am going to be a working chief,” Huff said. “I still have work to do in the field. Not much will change (from what I do now).”

Huff is also no stranger to the world of law enforcement. He is the younger brother of Payette County Sheriff Chad Huff.

“I am very proud of my brother, J.D., and his accomplishments throughout the years. I have watched him progress and develop into an excellent police administrator and leader over the years,” Sheriff Chad Huff said. “His appointment to chief of police in Fruitland was his ultimate goal. I have no doubt he will serve the community of Fruitland with the utmost respect and professionalism. I am excited for the opportunity to work with him in the future and continue the excellent working relationship with the Fruitland Police Department. I would like to congratulate J.D. and wish him and his family well in the future.”

Mayor Tom Limbaugh said the final decision to make Huff the chief was not made lightly by the City Council.

Normally, Limbaugh said, the position of police chief is a mayoral appointment.

Over the last six months, he said, Fruitland City Council members, along with the executive director of the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training, Idaho State Police Patrolman Shawn Klitch and Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee, made their way through dozens of applications and eventually interviewed candidates from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming before making their decision.

“There was a lot of time and thought put into this,” Limbaugh said. “We finally came down to the conclusion that J.D. stood above the rest. I feel he’s ready, and he will be a great asset to Fruitland.”

Huff is married. He and his wife, Dawn, have three children, a 5-year-old daughter and 1-year-old twins (a boy and a girl).