KCSO: On death and dignity

On Saturday, accompanied by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, I experienced the unfortunate task of discovering my neighbor and friend’s body in his home. His faithful, set-in-stone routine had changed over the course of the past week.

This former Marine captain never missed a beat. Several newspapers were piled on his porch. The restaurant he frequented daily had not seen him. His SUV had not been seen. He would pass my house every morning. Exactly at the same time. Something was certainly amiss.

Reluctantly, I placed a 911 call. After some discussion, the sheriff’s office made the call to breach the darkened home. They were thoughtful of his property, hoping to find a hidden key prior to entry. His body was subsequently discovered. I was certainly hoping for a better outcome.

The KCSO handled the situation with complete dignity for this gentleman. They showed compassion and respect during a most difficult time. My friend’s body was removed from his home covered with an American flag. The KCSO sergeant invited me (former military) to join the officers in rendering a final hand salute. Thank you to the sergeant in charge — Ryan — and all the other KCSD officers involved.

Couple of take-aways. Don’t be reluctant to call 911 if your neighbor’s schedule has altered. The 911 operator was extremely professional, asked appropriate questions and assured me help was forthcoming. Second, give our LEOs a thank you. Their performance Saturday was outstanding.

BRUCE ECKHARDT

Hayden