County names new AMP director

Keith Hutcheson will serve as Kootenai County’s director of adult misdemeanor probation.

The board of commissioners announced Hutcheson’s hire was effective Monday.

Hutcheson, who most recently served as Spirit Lake chief of police, also served for six years as the chief of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Tribal Police and eight years with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.

“I would just like to say I am honored and humbled to be the new AMP director. I look forward to meeting everyone and continuing to be a part of this great team. Thank you, everyone, for all the support,” Hutcheson said, in a news release.

Hutcheson has several years of experience working with explosive detection K9s and he is Idaho POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) certified. In addition, Hutcheson was elected to three terms as a Kootenai County Fire and Rescue commissioner, a position he held until 2016.

“We are looking forward to working with Keith. The knowledge and experience he brings to this position will be beneficial to the residents of Kootenai County,” said Marc Eberlein, chair of the county board of commissioners.

The Adult Misdemeanor Probation Department supervises probation for individuals as ordered by the First District Court. The department’s mission is to help reduce incarceration rates and mitigate risks for re-offenders by directing and assisting probation officers in personal and community adjustment.