A tribute to Sgt. Greg Moore
KRISTEN McPEEK/Press file Members of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department walk across the field after a U-12 soccer game at Coeur d’Alene High School on Saturday, May 9, 2015. Sgt. Moore’s son Dylan, played and scored the first goal of the game held the same day as his father's funeral.
KRISTEN McPEEK/Press file Detective Johann Schmitz was a speaker at the funeral of Sgt. Greg Moore on May 9, 2015, at Lake City High School. Schmitz was a dear friend and colleague of Moore’s.
KRISTEN McPEEK/Press file Sally and Steven Hicks hold a K27 sign outside Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene during the funeral procession for Sgt. Greg Moore on May 9, 2015.
KRISTEN McPEEK/Press An Idaho State Trooper looks to her hands during the first speech given by Pastor Rodney Wright during Sgt. Greg Moore's funeral on May 9, 2015. Law enforcement personnel from Montana, Washington, Canada and beyond attended the funeral.
KRISTEN McPEEK/Press file Debra Draeger straightens a photo of Sgt. Greg Moore displayed along with other memorial items May 6, 2015 on Wilbur Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Moore was shot at the location in the early morning hours of May 5, 2015 and later died.
MATT WEIGAND/Press file The 2015 Fourth of July parade in Coeur d’Alene started on a somber note. In honor of slain police Sgt. Greg Moore, a riderless horse was led down the parade route by a Coeur d’Alene police officer.
Our community lost Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore two years ago today. On this anniversary of his death, we honor him and all of those members of law enforcement who have been killed in the line of duty.
As your mayor, I have been so proud to see how our community has come together to support Sgt. Moore, his family, as well as the rest of our police department’s officers.
With Police Chief Lee White leading the department, Coeur d’Alene has continued to experience overall drops in the crime rate and outreach to our citizens has increased. Our officers make a difference every day as dedicated public servants doing a selfless, but sometimes thankless, job. Connecting with the community is so important for our officers — it helps us all see them as fellow citizens who chose a noble and challenging path. It also helps our officers hear valuable citizen feedback and concerns. Our department is more effective because of these connections.
Sgt. Moore didn’t have to be out on the streets in a police cruiser two years ago. As a supervisor he could have taken a more administrative attitude toward his duties. Instead, he chose to patrol in the middle of the night to help keep Coeur d’Alene safe. That leadership, courage, integrity and professionalism is an inspiration to us all and serves as a reminder that our officers’ primary role is that of a protector of our citizens and community. I have seen firsthand that our officers take this duty — and their oath to protect and serve — seriously. It is a humbling honor to lead a city with such an amazing police department.
While our officers work to support us through public safety every day, we have an opportunity to support and honor them now, too.
The community is very close to completing fundraising for the first phase of the K27 Memorial, a privately fundraised project to honor Sgt. Moore and all of our fallen officers nationwide. The memorial is named after Sgt. Moore’s call sign, and you may have seen many vehicles throughout Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding area adorned with stickers of that call sign to remember his sacrifice.
I am grateful for the efforts of the Panhandle Parks Foundation for taking on this endeavor. The city is proud to provide a portion of McEuen Park’s green space for this new amenity. Phase one will include three waterfalls — “Respect,” “Honor,” and “Remember” — and eight benches nearby so visitors can peacefully reflect on the sacrifice these officers have given on our behalf. The waterway will be lit by LED digitized lighting and three monument pillars will also be placed along the banks.
There are a few ways to support the project. A donation of any kind at k27forever.com gets us that much closer to completing this important community project.
Numerous eateries and other businesses throughout Kootenai County will also be donating a portion of their proceeds from today’s customers to the memorial, too. Those restaurants include Buffalo Wild Wings, Capone’s, The Fedora, Franko’s Dog House, Nate’s New York Pizza, North Idaho Cider, Roger’s Ice Cream & Burgers, Schaffer’s Towing, Strike Zone Arena, Sun Valley Tree Service and Sweet Lou’s Restaurant and Tap House.
For more information on donations or today’s business fundraiser, please contact the Panhandle Parks Foundation at (208) 446-4813 or email panhandleparks@gmail.com.
I hope you’ll join with me in honoring the sacrifice of Sgt. Moore and all fallen officers. And, when you see one of our officers out working on our behalf to keep our community safe, please thank them for their service.