Coming together for Sgt. Moore

COEUR d'ALENE — "K27, Central, your status?"

"K27, Central, your status?" repeated a police dispatcher trying to contact Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore, call sign K27, during the early morning hours of May 5, 2015.

"K27, Central, your status?"

But Moore, a 16-year veteran of the Coeur d'Alene Police force, was unable to respond. What began as a routine patrol of neighborhoods in the northwest portion of the city had ended in gunfire.

"We've got bleeding to the head," reported the first officer responding to the scene at the intersection of West Wilbur Avenue and West Timberlake Loop. "His car is gone."

The gunshot wound to Moore's head claimed the officer's life the same day, leaving his friends, family, colleagues, and the community as a whole shocked by the senseless tragedy. In the moments and days following Moore's death, shock turned to action as a galvanized community rallied to show support for the officer's family and his brothers and sisters in law enforcement.

One year later, a look back:

• May 5, 2015: Approximately 1:20 a.m.

Moore made contact with a pedestrian, later identified as 26-year-old Jonathan Renfro of Rathdrum, who was walking through a residential area near West Wilbur Avenue. Police records indicate that Moore called dispatchers shortly after, requesting information on Renfro. It would be the officer’s last call. Renfro's license was found in Moore's possession after the officer was transported to Kootenai Health.

Body camera footage of the incident shows, according to police reports, Moore calling Renfro over to his patrol vehicle following the officer's request to dispatch. Renfro was then observed shooting Moore with a 9mm Glock pistol. Moore immediately fell to the ground, causing his body camera to point toward the morning sky.

Renfro, who was on felony probation at the time of the shooting, reportedly later told Idaho State Police detectives he shot Moore because he feared Moore would discover the pistol in his right coat pocket.

A short time after the shooting, the camera recorded Renfro’s face while the man used Moore's flashlight to search the body of the fallen officer. Seconds later, according to police reports, the voices of a man and a woman could be heard in the background.

• May 5, 2015: Approximately 1:34 a.m.

Cinda Allen, who lives in the neighborhood Moore was patrolling, called 911 and told a dispatcher she heard a loud "pop-type" noise coming from the street outside her home. Allen, according to police reports, went outside and saw a patrol vehicle, driven by Renfro, leaving the area, as well as an individual laying in the street.

Detectives would later interview Allen's companion, Chris Werts, who told them the loud noise woke him up and caused him to step outside. Once outside, according to reports, Werts said he observed a police vehicle just west of his house, and an adult male standing over another figure lying on the ground. Werts said he yelled at Renfro, who then got into Moore's vehicle and fled the scene.

A large presence of law enforcement officers and medical personnel arrived at the scene, and Moore was transported to Kootenai Health.

• May 5, 2015: Approximately 1:43 a.m.

A Post Falls Police officer observed a Coeur d'Alene Police Department patrol car traveling past him at a high rate of speed on West Seltice Way. The officer engaged the vehicle in a high speed pursuit until he lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Beck Road and Seltice Way.

Moore's abandoned vehicle was found on Beck Road near the state line, prompting approximately 25 responders with multiple Idaho and Washington agencies to set up a perimeter. Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug told The Press in a previous article that Renfro tried to enter Walmart after ditching the patrol car, but was unable to get in because the store was closed.

• May 5, 2015: Approximately 4 a.m.

Renfro was found by a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office K-9. A police report states that Renfro was hiding in the axle area of a trailer in a dirt parking area on the west side of Walmart. He was arrested without incident.

During his first appearance in Kootenai County District Court, Renfro was charged with five felonies, including attempted murder.

• May 5, 2015: Approximately 5:50 p.m.

The Coeur d'Alene Police Department announced that Moore died.

"Words cannot adequately express the level of mourning we feel for Sergeant Moore's family and our law enforcement family," stated a media release. "He lived his life with honor, dedication and loyalty as a public servant to the citizens of Coeur d'Alene. Even more important he was a dedicated husband and father of two wonderful children."

• May 5, 2015: Post-Announcement

Community leaders reacted to the news of Moore's death with shock and sadness. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer encouraged residents to keep Moore's family, the police department, and all who knew him in their prayers.

"Our community has been wounded and, in some ways, it may never be the same," Widmyer said. "We have lost a great man. Over time our community will heal, but we will always bear a scar and we will never forget the bravery and sacrifice of Sgt. Greg Moore."

Later that night, about 400 people attended a vigil at Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur d'Alene to honor and remember Moore.

"He's the kind of police officer that men and women looked up to in the police department," said Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Christie Wood.

The nonprofit Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Foundation established a fund to benefit the Moore family on the day of the officer's death.

• May 6, 2015

Moore's body was transported to Spokane for an autopsy. Coeur d'Alene Police officers escorted Moore to the Spokane Coroner's Office, and multiple police and fire jurisdictions joined in solidarity along the way.

"We are humbled and overwhelmed by the kind response we have received from this community and around the entire nation," Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White wrote in a news release. "I wish to thank our surrounding law enforcement agencies for their continued support of our personnel. I am extremely proud of our officers while they continue to carry out their oath to protect and serve this community."

Throughout the day, multiple fundraising efforts were launched by local residents and businesses in an effort to show support to Moore's family.

As the sun began to set, hundreds of people gathered at the McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza to honor the life of Moore. Terri Boyd-Davis quickly pulled the event together with a Facebook post encouraging residents to take to the streets to peacefully show their support for the community and law enforcement personnel.

"It's something that came from my heart," Boyd-Davis said. "All the people who are here feel the same way as I do — we want our law enforcement and Sgt. Moore's family to know how much we care about them."

Following a march around the park, Coeur d'Alene resident Scott Maclay said he felt a calling from the Holy Spirit to ask everyone gathered in the plaza to form a large circle and join hands. Maclay then prayed, asking for God to protect law enforcement personnel and the community.

"I just came here tonight to be with other hurting people who are looking for healing like I am," Maclay told The Press after the prayer. "I think the whole community feels fragile right now. But as much as it hurts today, I think it will end up making Coeur d'Alene stronger."

• May 7, 2015

Hundreds of residents, emergency responders and others gathered along and over Interstate 90 to pay respects to Moore as a procession transported Moore's body from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene.

One man, Don Shore, had tears in his eyes while holding an American flag and witnessing the procession.

"He was one of those cops in which, even if he arrested someone, they'd say 'That's a cool cop,'" said Shore, who works in security at Kootenai Health and knew Moore for approximately a decade. "He always had words of encouragement. Every time a Coeur d'Alene patrol car pulls up to the hospital, it's just not going to be quite the same."

• May 9, 2015

Thousands of people attended a public memorial service for Moore at Lake City High School. During the service, several of Moore's friends and colleagues spoke about the impact Moore had on their lives and the community.

"I came to know Greg as a fearless police officer, an outstanding supervisor, a leader of men, a common-sense thinker and problem solver, and most importantly, I came to know him as my dear, dear friend, and I loved him," said Coeur d'Alene Police Detective Johann Schmitz. "I know Greg will be remembered well."

Dan Eckles, a longtime friend of Moore, shared a tearful memory.

"As I spoke to him Tuesday evening at his hospital bedside, I told him he was the first person outside my family that I knew really cared about me as a person and a friend," Eckles said. "I knew that feeling shortly after I met him. It didn't take long."

Eckles, of Sparks, Nev., added that he was blessed to have Moore as a best friend.

"But who was his? I'm not sure he could tell you, and ultimately it doesn't matter," Eckles said. "When he was with you, he made you feel like his best friend."

Following the service, Moore's casket was escorted by law enforcement personnel to his final resting place in Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene. People lined the route and paid their respects as the procession passed by.

During a private ceremony at Forest Cemetery, hundreds stood in silence while a dispatcher gave Moore his final call, a tradition among law enforcement personnel when honoring a fallen officer.

"This is your final assignment," the dispatcher said. "K27 respond to 1011 North Government Way where your final duty will be to watch over your family and fellow officer. The citizens and the Coeur d'Alene Police Department are in debt for your years of service. Sgt. Greg Moore may you rest in peace."

• May 19, 2015

A "Love letter to our community," was published in The Press. The letter was written by Lindy Moore, Greg's wife, who began by stating that she is blessed and humbled to live in such an incredible and loving community.

"Thank you to everyone who courageously reached out, even if you were unsure of how to approach me or what to say during this time of grief," the letter states. "Your presence has strengthened me. I have received countless messages and letters from the community and from around the nation. I have read them all. Every kind word, honoring Greg and his service, has made this impossible situation bearable for my family. I send out my heartfelt thanks to each person who has paid tribute to Greg and mourned alongside us."

"As I look toward the future, I find solace in knowing that Greg will live on in the collective memory of family, friends, and this community," the letter concludes. "Dylon and Gemma will always know their dad. He lives in the hearts and minds of everyone whose life he touched."

• June 24, 2015

Renfro was officially charged with first-degree murder in Kootenai County District Court. In addition to the murder charge, he also faces charges of robbery, removing a firearm from a law enforcement officer, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and grand theft.

• Dec. 29, 2015

The Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office filed paperwork notifying the court it will seek the death penalty in Renfro's case. The case remains open and is moving through the judicial process.

• April 11, 2016

During the Coeur d’Alene Police Department’s annual awards ceremony, Moore postumously received the Medal of Honor.

“Our profession is hazardous,” Chief Lee White said at the ceremony. “One-hundred-and-twenty-seven officers died in the line of duty in 2015. This year, 30 have died so far. Sgt. Moore will join more than 20,000 names at the Medal of Honor Memorial in Washington, D.C.”

• April 26, 2016

Coeur d'Alene officials announce they are considering adding a new water feature, constructed to honor Moore, at McEuen Park. Widmyer told The Press he wants to memorialize the officer with a $750,000, privately funded, natural waterfall feature between the confluence of trails at the Fourth Street entrance to the park.

The public fundraising effort, led by Widmyer and Wood, will be called the K27 campaign. Widmyer said they hope to raise the money through individual $27 donations.

The water feature will include three 8-foot-high waterfalls named after the memorial mantra: Respect, honor and remember. Respect Falls, Honor Falls and Remember Falls will cascade into a meandering creek named "Thin Blue Line," a symbol representing the camaraderie of police officers.