BOISE, Idaho – Governor Brad Little has announced his appointment of Bill Gardiner as the new Colonel and Director of the Idaho State Police, following the recent retirement of longtime ISP Chief Ked Wills.
“Bill Gardiner will lead the Idaho State Police with integrity, just as his predecessor, Ked Wills, did. Bill is a native Idahoan and brings a tremendous amount of experience and leadership to the position. I look forward to working closely with Bill and the ISP team to keep fentanyl off our streets, curb human trafficking, support border security efforts, and make Idaho one of the safest states in the country,” said Governor Little.
Gardiner has served as a lieutenant colonel, deputy director and chief of staff of the ISP since 2020. Gardiner is from Burley and has been with the ISP for 25 years, where he has held a variety of police roles.
“I am honored to assume the role of Director of the Idaho State Police, an agency with a proud tradition of excellence and community service. I look forward to continuing our mission to protect and serve the people of Idaho with integrity and professionalism while focusing on Governor Little’s Esto Perpetua initiative, which includes addressing critical issues such as human trafficking, combating fentanyl and improving public safety. I want to thank Colonel Wills from the bottom of my heart for his outstanding leadership and dedicated service. His contributions have been instrumental in making ISP the respected organization it is today, and I am committed to carrying on his legacy,” said Gardiner.
Wills will retire on August 16 and has been with the agency since 1996.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Idaho and work side-by-side with the brave men and women of the Idaho State Police. I have witnessed the remarkable progress and evolution of this agency throughout my career. Together, we have maintained the highest standards of law enforcement, keeping our communities safe. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident that the ISP will continue to succeed and do excellent work,” said Wills.