Officers get their wish for off-duty work

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene City Council granted city police officers the freedom to perform off-duty work and make some extra cash providing security and traffic control.

The work, which would be done in uniform, would not affect the officers' full-time duties with the city, said Sgt. Christie Wood, the city police spokeswoman.

Wood said Monday the Coeur d'Alene Police Association wanted this freedom for officers for more than a decade, but this was the first time it was officially proposed to the city council.

Private companies and vendors have sought the services of city officers.

"We know there's a demand," Wood said.

Spokane and Boise both already allow officers to do the off-duty work.

"It's very normal across the nation," Wood said. "They're basically officers on duty, but they're being paid through a vendor."

Vendors also would pay the city a fee for handling administrative work.

Mayor Steve Widmyer said he is on board.

"As long as we make sure all of our costs are covered," Widmyer said Monday.

A city council public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17 to establish a fee.

Also at last week's meeting, the city council approved a consulting agreement sought by the police department to have Wood continue doing some consulting work for the city after her Dec. 16 retirement. Wood has been with the department for more than 25 years.

The city will pay her $24,000 for a minimum of 240 hours of consulting work over two years, she said.

Currently, Wood is a supervisor in the detective division, and the supervisor for school resource officers and the volunteer police unit. She also is in charge of community relations and serves as the department's public information officer.

Her consulting work will include training the department's two new public information officers, Tom Sparks and Jared Reneau.

She will also be training the person taking over her duties supervising the school resource officers. She's also part of the city's legislative committee.

"It's a way for us to ease that transition," Widmyer said. "She's still going to be around the community doing great things."

Wood started out as a marine deputy for the Kootenai County sheriff, and before that she was a police officer for the U.S. Air Force.

"I'm excited about the next chapter," Wood said.

Wood also serves the community as the chair of the North Idaho College board of trustees.

She didn't rule out seeking a higher public office.

"I won't close the door to it," she said. "But I need some time to catch my breath."