SODA SPRINGS — Police officers make a choice to wear the badge and defend their communities with sacrifice and courage.
Officers vow to protect and serve no matter what the risks to them personally.
With that comes a long list of sacrifices that come not only to officers but their loved ones as well.
Though officers often see humanity at its worst, the good they strive to represent outweighs the bad they encounter day in, day out.
Recently a legendary member of the local law enforcement community received a special honor for his decades of selfless service to keep the city of Soda Springs and its residents safe.
Joe Rice was only 21 years old when he first put on the law enforcement badge with the Los Angeles Police Department. It was a badge he wore proudly and honorably.
After a few years serving the Los Angeles area, he moved to Soda Springs, a place he would reside and serve for the next 40-plus years as a police officer and police chief.
Rice's work as a Soda Springs police officer seemed to transcend the serve and protect mantra often associated with law enforcement.
He took his role as a Soda Springs police officer seriously, caring for the city and always seeing the best in its residents regardless of circumstances.
After 14 years serving with some of the best police officers and police chiefs he'd ever worked with, Rice found himself being promoted to lead the Soda Springs Police Department.
He served as the city's police chief for the next 25 years.
Current Soda Springs Police Chief Scott Shaw was a young officer under Rice's leadership.
“Joe was one everyone looked up to," Shaw said. "He led by example and believed successful leadership came from building up verses tearing down. He demanded high performance from all of us. With the demand came respect and we wanted to be our best for him. I remember if I ever came in for my shift a little unshaven, Joe would chuckle and simply rub his chin and cheek reminding me I needed to shave. He could have reprimanded but he didn’t. That wasn’t his style.”
As Rice served the city of Soda Springs, he accomplished a great deal and earned many prestigious law enforcement awards. But nothing brought him more joy than working in the schools of Soda Springs.
He could have had his officers patrol the schools but that was something he loved and enjoyed doing.
Many recall and miss seeing Chief Rice monitoring the streets as kids came to and from school. He also seemed to never miss a Soda Springs school event or sporting contest.
Rice retired in 2014 and left the department to spend more time with his wife Sue.
But he continued watching over the community. Though he no longer formally wore the badge, he found himself scanning crowds and trying to help the Police Department whenever he could.
In 2023, Rice was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He fought tough and with the same kind of love, grace and humor he always lived by.
Regretfully, Rice lost his battle with cancer this past June.
Recently, the Idaho Retired Law Enforcement Association came from Boise to present Rice’s wife Sue with an “End of Watch” plaque as a reminder to his family of the life Rice lived of selfless service as a police officer and chief.
Sue was grateful for the way the association honored her late husband.
Rice made his career as a police officer in Soda Springs a memorable one. The community and his fellow officers will never forget him and they're still grateful for his mentoring and leadership.
Once a police officer, always a police officer.
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