IDAHO FALLS, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador has recognized two veteran Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force detectives for reaching a significant milestone: 100 combined arrests tied to child-exploitation investigations in eastern Idaho.
Detective Jared Mendenhall of the Idaho Falls Police Department and Detective Korey Payne of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office were honored for their years of work tracking online predators and protecting vulnerable children across the state. Both have served with the ICAC Task Force for many years and have become two of Idaho’s most experienced investigators in online-exploitation cases.
Labrador praised the detectives’ dedication, calling their achievement “remarkable” and pointing to the difficulty and emotional toll of the work. “Detectives Mendenhall and Payne have spent years tracking down predators who exploit our most vulnerable,” Labrador said. “Their commitment to this difficult work is extraordinary.”
A key member of the investigative team is Mendenhall’s K9 partner, Ardis, an electronic-detection dog trained to locate hidden digital devices that may contain evidence. Ardis has assisted in numerous searches, helping uncover material that may otherwise have remained concealed.
Idaho ICAC Commander Nick Edwards said the detectives’ track record reflects more than statistics. “Reaching 100 combined arrests is more than a number — it represents children who are safer because of their work,” Edwards said.
The milestone underscores a long-standing partnership between the Idaho Falls Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office. Officials credit that collaboration — supported by Chief Bryce Johnson and Sheriff Samuel Hulse — with giving investigators the resources needed to pursue increasingly sophisticated offenders.
Anyone with information related to child exploitation is encouraged to contact local law enforcement, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
