Spirit Lake police chief resigns

SPIRIT LAKE - After a year and a half as Spirit Lake's police chief, Keith Hutcheson is headed back overseas as a bomb detection dog handler at a U.S. Embassy.

"It's something that came along unplanned," Hutcheson said of his new job. "A company contacted me and made me an offer that I couldn't turn down. This will really help me and my family down the road."

Hutcheson declined to specify what company he'll work for, per the company's wishes, and he said he'll work in either Iraq or Afghanistan but hasn't been told which country.

His last day at Spirit Lake Police, where he makes $22 per hour, is Thursday.

Hutcheson said he's leaving Spirit Lake on good terms.

"Spirit Lake has been great to me," he said. "We have a wonderful group of officers and staff. They've made me look good."

Hutcheson, 47, worked at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq as a bomb detection dog handler in 2013 before becoming Spirit Lake's chief.

He is a Kootenai County Fire and Rescue commissioner and his term ends on Dec. 31.

Hutcheson, who lives in Post Falls, was the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's police chief from 2005 to 2011 and worked for the KCSO from 1997 to 2005. He also worked for the Benewah County Sheriff's Office and as a firefighter in the Washington, D.C., area.

Hutcheson ran for Kootenai County sheriff in 2012, but was defeated by Ben Wolfinger. He had two unsuccessful bids for Post Falls City Council and formerly served on the Post Falls Parks and Recreation Commission.

Hutcheson said he tried to improve transparency and community relations as Spirit Lake's chief. SLPD obtained a grant under Hutcheson's leadership to re-implement a school resource officer (SRO) position. It has held bike rodeos, movies in the park and blood drives to reach out to the community.

"I've tried to develop the department and improve the trust between the department and the community," he said.