New police chief begins job

COEUR d'ALENE - There's a new chief in town.

During a ceremony at Coeur d'Alene police headquarters Tuesday, Lee White was sworn in as the city's chief of police.

"I am confident that Chief White will provide outstanding leadership knowledge and professionalism to the city of Coeur d'Alene," Mayor Steve Widmyer said. "We are very excited to have him as our new police chief."

Widmyer then turned the ceremony over to City Clerk Renata McLeod, who officially swore in White as the new chief.

"I, Lee White, do solemnly swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the constitution and law of the state of Idaho, and the ordinances of the city of Coeur d'Alene," White repeated after McLeod. "That I will faithfully discharge all the duties of the office of police chief according to the best of my ability. So help me God."

After he was sworn in, White's wife, Kristi, pinned his badge to his new uniform. A line of more than 100 people - many of whom were from local law enforcement and emergency agencies - formed to introduce themselves and congratulate the new chief.

"I've spent a lot of time with him and he really has a dynamic personality," Widmyer said after the ceremony. "He's a great leader and we're looking forward to that leadership at the police department. It's a great day for the city and it comes at a great time."

Although he was sworn in Tuesday evening, White told The Press that his first day of work with the department began at the shooting range at 7:30 a.m. At the range, he underwent his certification test to carry a firearm as a law enforcement officer in Idaho.

"There's a carryover period from my time in Arizona to here," White said. "But I wanted to get rocking and rolling as soon as possible."

White added that his swearing-in felt "similar" to the oaths he took when he joined the Marine Corps and at the Mesa Police Department.

"Most of us, as officers, take the oath of office very seriously," White said. "As the leader of this organization, it's important to know what that oath means. I just want to ensure that the police department and community has a very strong relationship."

With that in mind, White said he plans on beginning his time as chief with a "listening tour." On that tour, he will meet with his officers as well as members of the community to discuss what is most important to them.

"And I think people are going to find that what's most important to cops is equally important to the community," White said. "We all want this to be a world-class police department."