The Idaho Falls Police Department is pleased to announce that Officer Kevin Goms was recognized as the 2017 American Legion Post 56 Police Officer of the Year.

Goms was honored by the American Legion Thursday night.

“Kevin, despite being with the department only a short time, has proven to be a leader in our patrol division,” Idaho Falls Police Chief Mark McBride said. “His shown great ingenuity, initiative and dedication in meeting the objectives and goals of the department.”

Since Goms started in December 2016, he has made arrests resulting in 188 criminal charges. He has been instrumental in helping identify, track down and arrest suspects in armed robberies, narcotic-related cases, burglaries, stolen vehicles and fraud cases.

In February, Goms located a wanted fugitive out of Oregon who was in possession of forged checks, stolen credit cards and mail used to make fraudulent purchases and electronically commit felony fraud.

In 2016, Goms also received the department’s Life-Saving Award, along with several other officers, for facilitating the rescue of a drowning victim.

“Goms is a stand-out leader amongst his peers. He has an uncanny ability to rally his colleagues together to work as a team in helping minimize crime in the Idaho Falls community,” McBride said.