Top cop

COEUR d'ALENE - There's not exactly a new sheriff in town, but close.

The city of Coeur d'Alene has hired Mesa, Ariz.'s Assistant Police Chief Lee White to fill the shoes of retired Police Chief Wayne Longo.

"I have been reading your two newspapers up there for two years now," White said in a telephone interview Thursday.

White said he and his wife first visited Coeur d'Alene almost 10 years ago, after his brother-in-law moved his family here. They have wanted to move here ever since.

"We just fell in love with the place," he said, adding he has been watching for years for a position to open in the Coeur d'Alene Police Department.

When Chief Longo retired, White was one of 75 applicants to throw his hat in the ring.

"We were really hoping this opportunity would present itself," he said. "We're huge outdoor enthusiasts - hunting, fishing, skiing, water sports - and everybody up there is extremely nice."

Mayor Steve Widmyer said White's application stood out from the rest throughout the selection process.

"I'm thrilled that Lee White has accepted the position," Widmyer said in a written statement Thursday. "He is a respected police officer with a high degree of integrity and proven leadership."

The Mesa Police Department also issued a press release Thursday announcing White's new role in Coeur d'Alene.

"White has been with the Mesa Police Department for over 21 years and currently handles the $164 million budget and the Investigations Division," the release said. "Over the years, he has worked in almost every area of the department. With a strong background in management, police tactics and technology, White should be a great fit for Coeur d'Alene."

The release also said White has a "very inclusive" leadership style and that he will truly be missed in Mesa.

"He likes to hear what the officers and the community have to say before deciding what will be best for everyone involved," the release stated. "Working together and smarter has definitely made him a success and helped loft him to his new Chief's position."

White said he intends to embark on a "listening tour" when he arrives on the job Sept. 2. Transparency is a big part of his leadership style.

He is familiar with some of the high-profile cases that are facing the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, but said he is not comfortable commenting on them as an outsider.

However, he did say he firmly believes in releasing the most information he possibly can in high-profile cases, as long as it doesn't compromise the case or his officers.

White, who has lived in Arizona all of his life, said he plans to hit the road on the week of Aug. 25 to make his long journey to Coeur d'Alene.

"The time frame will be a little compressed and may be a difficult turnaround," he said, adding it will all be worth it because his family is excited to make the move.

"I don't know if there is something in the water, but everybody is just so nice up there," he said.