Otter appoints Ked Wills to lead Idaho State Police

BOISE – Idaho State Police Lt. Col. Kedrick “Ked” Wills has been named the next director of the Idaho State Police, to succeed Col. Ralph Powell when he retires July 2 after 34 years with the ISP.

Gov. Butch Otter announced the decision Wednesday; Wills will be promoted to colonel as part of his promotion.

“Col. Powell’s career has been distinguished by success at every level of service and command and throughout ISP’s six operating districts,” Otter said in a statement. “In Ked Wills, the Idaho State Police is getting another energetic and engaged director whose leadership and commitment to the success of the agency’s public safety mission is second to none. I’m confident that he will continue ISP’s tradition of excellence.”

Wills began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Glenns Ferry and Nampa police departments before joining ISP as a trooper based in Burley in 1996. He’s served in a variety of roles as he rose through the ranks. Powell promoted him to lieutenant colonel and ISP deputy director in 2013.

Wills holds a master’s degree in human resources development and training from Idaho State University, and is a graduate of the Naval Post Graduate Homeland Security Executive Leaders Program and the FBI National Academy; he’s also served as a city councilor in Kimberly. He is the son of longtime state trooper and former state Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, who served seven terms in the Idaho House and chaired the House Judiciary Committee.

In a statement, Wills said, “It is an honor to be asked by Gov. Otter to follow Col. Powell’s footsteps and lead the dedicated and professional men and women of one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the nation. I will do my best to continue to uphold the high standards that have been set by those giants who went before us and whose shoulders all of us at ISP are standing on today.”