PF Police officer dies from heart attack
McDaniel
POST FALLS — A Post Falls Police officer was on duty Sunday when he died from a heart attack.
After completing a call for service at 4:40 p.m. Sunday, Officer Nicholas McDaniel failed to respond to a status check from the police communications center, said a report Monday from the Post Falls Police Department. Officers were dispatched to McDaniel’s last known location, where they found him slumped over the steering wheel of his police vehicle.
Officers immediately started CPR until Kootenai County Fire and Rescue arrived and transported McDaniel to Kootenai Health, where he was pronounced deceased. The cause of death was determined to be a massive heart attack.
McDaniel, 36, worked for the Post Falls Police Department for a little under a year, with 13 years previously served in Hawaii. He was recognized as the officer of the month by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee in February 2016, January 2013 and January 2014.
Post Falls Police thanked surrounding law enforcement, fire and medical agencies, as well as the local community, for their unwavering support while the department mourns the loss of a family member. Post Falls Police also asked for community members to keep McDaniel’s fiancé and children in their thoughts and prayers as they cope with the loss of their loved one.
“We are proud of the time that Officer McDaniel gave serving our citizens and fellow colleagues at the city of Post Falls," Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said in a news release. "There are no words that can make this loss easier to bear for Officer McDaniel’s family and colleagues. As a city, we mourn Officer McDaniel’s death deeply and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.”
Gov. Brad Little has ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be flown at half-staff to honor McDaniel until the day following his memorial service.
"All of Idaho mourns when we lose an officer in the line of duty," Little said in the flag directive announcement Monday afternoon.
"Officer McDaniel was dedicated to his community and public safety, and we are deeply saddened by his sudden passing," Little said. "Please keep Officer McDaniel's family, many colleagues and the Post Falls community in your prayers."