SHERIFF: The case against Kim

I have worked for four police agencies, including the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office from 1995 until 2018 when I retired. During my career with KCSO, I came to know Kim Edmondson and her history with the sheriff’s office very well.

When I started, Kim was a jail deputy. In the late 1990s Kim was promoted to jail sergeant, and around 2003-2004, transferred to the patrol division. She attended the patrol academy, returned to the SO, and was placed in the field training program (which is for rookie officers) yet retained the rank of sergeant. She completed the field training program and was placed in a car alone for a few months before transferring to detectives — having been promoted to lieutenant!

Virtually all of my coworkers were angered that Kim came to the patrol division the equivalent of a rookie, but held her sergeant stripes. They were even angrier when she was promoted to lieutenant and put in charge of the detective division, staffed by the most experienced men and women in the department. She barely qualified as a rookie officer.

In all my years of law enforcement experience, I have never seen anything like this. The rank and file viewed Kim’s promotions as a “good old boy” move, which created huge morale problems that still exist.

Kim has not “led” a major investigation, or a field operation. She doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to become our new sheriff.

Respect and trust are earned. Because Kim earned neither, she lost the endorsement of her peers.

Vote for a change to this important position.

JEFF BURNS

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