Peters named new Columbia Falls police chief

A longtime Whitefish police officer has been tapped to lead the Columbia Falls Police Department. The Columbia Falls City Council last week voted to approve the hiring of Clint Peters as the city’s new police chief.

Peters, 36, a patrol sergeant in Whitefish, has 12 years experience on Whitefish’s force. He grew up in Whitefish and graduated from high school here in 1999. His father, Dave, was superintendent of schools here for 10 years.

Peters studied business administration at the North Dakota State College of Science and fire science at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado. He said his plan after college was to be a firefighter. He was working as a firefighter part-time and working as a 911 dispatcher in Whitefish when a part-time police officer position became available. He was encouraged to apply by Whitefish assistant police chief Mike Ferda and became a full-time officer with the force in 2004.

Peters has four children, two biological and two by marriage with his wife, Ashley. They’ve lived in Columbia Falls for the past 12 years, which weighed in on his decision to apply for the post.

“This is my community now,” he said. “I have more of a connection to Columbia Falls.”

Peters is currently enrolled at Flathead Valley Community College as he works on wrapping up a degree in criminal justice.

Peters played football and basketball for the Bulldogs and basketball for a year while attending North Dakota State. He was a longtime boys and girls assistant basketball coach in Whitefish and was the head coach of the girls team for two seasons in 2014 and 2015.

He said he’s looking forward to working in Columbia Falls and bringing community policing here.

“I’m looking forward to building something with the community that maybe we didn’t have in the past,” he said.

He said he was encouraged to apply for the post by Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial.

“He gave me guidance and encouragement,” Peters said. “He’s helped a lot.”

Peters replaces Dave Perry, who was fired in July after an inmate escaped from the city’s jail on his watch last May.