MOORE: Tribute to him - and Cd'A

To the people of Coeur d’Alene,

Police Sergeant Greg Moore was one of my best friends. We attended the University of Idaho together in the mid-1990s. I have been to your fine city on many occasions, most of them to visit my good friend.

In an effort to let emotions settle, I wanted to wait a few weeks before I wrote this letter. Now in the early days of June, I’ve found the strength to take the time to write it. I want to say, ‘THANK YOU.’

I’ve been lucky that in my life I’ve had relatively little negative drama and only a few dark days, but May 5-9 were among the toughest in my nearly 42 years. As tough as they were, those days were made easier because of the generous, caring people living in the panhandle of North Idaho. You turned out by the thousands to support my friend’s family, friends and colleagues in the Coeur d’Alene-PD.

I was moved by the countless businesses with signs in their windows boasting a message of support or promoting a share of their profits to be given to the Moore family. I was in awe, and not doing a very good job of holding back tears, as I rode in a bus from Lake City High School to a cemetery ceremony and saw the thousands of local residents in Coeur d’Alene lining the streets and procession route waving flags while proudly holding K-27 signs.

Everywhere in the community my friends and I would go, the restaurant staff, business owners, store vendors and others all seemingly had words of encouragement for us.

Additionally, the amazing officers of the Coeur d’Alene-PD treated me and Greg’s other close out-of-town friends like we were part of their family. They were there to help us in any way possible, and all at a time when they were grieving too.

I’d like to think if an officer died in the line of duty in my hometown of Sparks, Nev., that the community would show nothing but its best side, offering all the kind words it had and acting in support every way it knew how. I’d like to think it would, but I’m not sure. I am sure of that in Coeur d’Alene because I’ve seen it.

I know when my friend Greg Moore passed away, a little piece of Coeur d’Alene died too. It was evident based on the community response that he was loved. So again, to the good people of Coeur d’Alene, I say thank you. Thanks for the support to me and my friends as we continue deal with a loss. Thanks for supporting Lindy and Jen and Dylon and Gemma. Please continue to support your city’s fine law enforcement personnel. Thanks for being at your best, when some of us were suffering through our worst.

DAN ECKLES

Sparks, Nevada