Never forget

COEUR d’ALENE — Ben Wolfinger’s career with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office began 37 years and nine months ago, on April 1, 1983.

Yes, April Fool’s Day.

Since then, one thing about Wolfinger is certain: He is nobody’s fool.

He laughed as he recounted how then sheriff Merf Stalder told Wolfinger he was too small to make it in that line of work.

“Fooled him, ‘cause here I am,” he said, smiling.

Wolfinger worked his way up through the ranks, from the jail to patrol deputy to detective. He was elected sheriff in 2012.

In 113 days, Wolfinger will retire.

“It’s been a great career,” he said Tuesday morning during a 20-minute presentation at the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce’s Upbeat Breakfast. “Thank you for trusting me to have this position so long and lead that office for eight years.”

Darrell Hartwick, chamber president and CEO, presented Wolfinger with an award for outstanding service, which prompted a standing ovation from the mostly maskless crowd of about 50 people at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

“Just so you understand what you mean to us,” Hartwick said. “I think we all know how great you’ve been for our community.”

Wolfinger also served on the Coeur d’Alene City Council for five years, on chamber committees and the board of directors, and was past president of the Western States Sheriff’s Association.

“Is there anything you really haven’t done at this point?’ Hartwick asked.

To which Wolfinger said, “I couldn’t have done it without my wife and I want to thank Mary.”

He was named the grand marshal of Coeur d’Alene’s Fourth of July parade, which was canceled due to the coronavirus.

So, before he outlined his 12 traits of a good leader, he looked out at the crowd and waved.

“This is my parade wave,” he said, laughing.

On a serious note, Wolfinger said he appreciates the local support of law officers.

“When I look around the country and see the opposition to law enforcement, I sure am glad I live here amongst you,” he said. “I’m glad I live in a community that understands a safe community is a vibrant community. And safe communities are attractive to do business.”

The sheriff talked about the good and the bad of a career as a first responder.

“Every first responder has bad images and memories etched on their mind,” he said, citing crashes, fatalities and drownings.

“The death, the abuse we’re exposed to on a daily basis, I don’t know many first responders who don’t have nightmares about some trauma they’ve experienced at work.”

Many have sought counseling to deal with it. Others have suffered failed marriages, the sacrifice of keeping a community safe.

The bad, he said, is “something we don’t want to talk about and something you don’t want to hear at a breakfast meeting.”

In his career, he’s come across key traits of good leaders. Some of them were integrity, purpose, vision, humility and humor.

He said he engages with employees so he knows the frustrations and challenges they face. And he reads often — newspapers, books, cereal boxes, too.

“I start my day off every day with reading my Bible. I get up, feed the dog, have my coffee, read my Bible.”

He also said it’s important to do something physical for fun and relaxation, so he fly fishes and golfs.

“I know I’m not training for Ironman by doing that, but when I wade in the river all day, I’m pretty tired by the end of the day,” he said. “It’s a good thing.”

Wolfinger talked of using the 86,400 seconds of each day wisely and being giving of your time and talents.

He recalled that a senior officer once told him, “Never forget from where you came, regardless of where you go in this career.”

Wolfinger remembers.

“Never forget from where you came,” he said. “It’s a long road home.”