New lawmen in town

COEUR d'ALENE - One had traveled the world, the other was right in our backyard.

The Coeur d'Alene Police Department welcomed two new police officers last week, United States Navy veteran Dustin Taylor and former security guard Jason Wilhelm.

Taylor's six years of active duty in the Navy took him to Kuwait, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Wilhelm worked as a security guard for The Coeur d'Alene Resort, then on reserve police patrols in the summer before making the switch to full-time officer.

Both were sworn in Jan. 3.

"I'll never, ever downplay my service in the military," said Taylor, 30. "But it's nice to serve my country domestically now, too."

Both are from Spokane and were sworn in Jan. 6, filling two vacant positions from attrition the department had yet to fill. Both were selected from tryouts with around 170 applicants.

"I was really surprised they called," Taylor said. "I was expecting the wait to last a lot longer."

But while Taylor was touring as loadmaster for cargo transport, Wilhelm was closer to home.

When he had to switch fields after his carpentry business dried up, Wilhelm found himself working as a security guard at The Resort. That led to becoming a personal bodyguard for Resort owner Duane Hagadone in the summer, while working as a reserve officer on patrols.

A taste of the job as reserve solidified Wilhelm's desire to switch careers.

"I always thought it would be a good fit," he said of wanting a career in law enforcement at some point despite being a carpenter by trade. "But I got too caught up in the business."

Wilhelm, 40, is originally from New York. Taylor earned a degree in criminal justice before joining the force.

Both are happy to be part of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department.

"It took a while to sink in. It's still sinking in," Wilhelm said of his hiring, "But I'm definitely excited."