Chief White: We're all in this together

On May 5, 2015, Sgt. Greg Moore was killed in the line of duty. Next week, his name will be added to the more than 20,000 names on the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. Each of the fallen officers, and those who continue to serve in uniform, represent the honor and traditions that are the backbone of the American public safety professional. Those principles are sustained today by the ethics, professionalism, bravery, and sacrifice of our officers.

Over the course of my career I have had the opportunity to work with literally hundreds of officers from a variety of agencies, and I can report without equivocation that the men and women of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department are among the best I have seen. Their integrity and work ethic is above reproach. But what makes our department special, and what makes our jobs not only more enjoyable but also easier than in some other parts of the country, is the community support we experience on a continual basis.

One of the hardest things I have ever done was tell the dozens of officers and their family members standing in the hospital hallway outside Greg’s room, all hoping for good news while knowing that the worst was coming, that Greg had died. What made it even harder, but much more profound, was that as I left the hospital to collect myself after delivering this terrible news I was stopped by no less than 10 people who genuinely inquired about Greg’s status, offered condolences, or just said that their prayers were with us.

In the year since the tragic loss of Sgt. Moore, the men and women in uniform who serve our community have seen constant reminders of the amazing place in which we live. On the one-year anniversary of Greg’s death, rather than eulogize Greg and his policing style, I want to convey my thoughts about our community and the fantastic relationship between public safety and those we serve.

While some parts of the country deal with strained relations between police and the public, our community and the manner in which our officers interact with the citizens of our beautiful area continues to astound me. Reminders of that support and positive interaction are everywhere. One cannot drive a mile without seeing a K27 sticker and our men and women in uniform are frequently stopped just so someone can thank them for their service. Last Monday I stopped by the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors to thank a team of volunteers who were assembling blue light bulb packages. Out of their sense of community and support, the volunteers and organizers of this event just decided to put together this event to show their endorsement for area law enforcement.

Our officers give back regularly, but they do so oftentimes in secret to avoid recognition for their philanthropy. It is not uncommon for me to hear about how one of our officers had, on their own time and with their own funds, helped a child or family in need.

I could cite dozens of examples of our amazing reciprocal relationship, but what I see in our community is the living and breathing embodiment of Sir Robert Peele’s principles on policing, penned in 1829. Rather than cite all nine principles here, let me summarize the recurring theme that provided the foundation for this century’s community policing model: The police are the public and the public are the police, and that relationship is the backbone of a safe society.

The everyday exercise of these principles is rarely newsworthy. Every shift, your officers solve problems, get out of their cars and establish, maintain, or improve relationships with our residents and visitors, and protect the public through collaborative approaches to public safety without expecting gratitude.

Abraham Lincoln said, “In the end, it is not the years in our life that matter, but the life in our years.” There is a quote on the National Law Enforcement Memorial with the same theme: “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.” Sgt. Moore lived an amazing life and inspired many of us to live life to the fullest, to do more for others than we do for ourselves, and be the best parent, friend, and neighbor that we can be.

The outpouring of support we saw in the weeks and months that followed Greg’s death was nothing short of amazing. While I have attended many police officer funerals in my time, I have never experienced anything so amazing as what I saw then. In the year that has passed one thing has become extremely clear: The police and the community are in this together, and our relationship is forever stronger because of his sacrifice.

On behalf of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department and the men and women in uniform all around our region, thank you for your support and cooperative efforts to keep our community safe.