Happy birthday, Mike Kralicek

COEUR d’ALENE — Karen Kastning is issuing a call for action.

For Mike Kralicek. 

The family friend is asking the community to send cards, gift cards and other wishes in honor of Kralicek’s birthday Aug. 20. 

“I want him to feel so loved by our community,” Kastning said Thursday. 

Kralicek was a 35-year-old Coeur d’Alene police officer Dec. 28, 2004, when he was shot at close range after responding to a call. The bullet struck him in the right cheek, caused catastrophic injuries and left him permanently disabled. 

Mike and his wife, Carrie, moved to Oregon to be near family, and as Mike recovered, he did motivational speaking and urged emergency responders to be prepared for injury in the line of duty. They later returned to Coeur d’Alene, where they live today. 

Kastning said she hopes that Kralicek will receive thousands of birthday cards that let him know his service to the community and what happened has not been forgotten. 

“I just felt like they need some love from the community,” she said. 

Coeur d’Alene city councilmembers said Kralicek deserves a sea of support.

“We are eternally grateful for his contributions to Coeur d’Alene,” Amy Evans said. 

Dan English said Kralicek and his wife suffered a significant loss. He said Kralicek survived something traumatic and has had to endure much since the shooting happened.

“I'm sure it's never been easy,” English said. 

He said he has kept in contact with the Kraliceks over the years. 

“Anything we can do to honor the sacrifice of our public safety, we need to do,” English said. 

Woody McEvers said he was on his way to Boise for a conference when he heard that Kralicek had been shot. 

“It was tough,” he said. “It was really tough."

McEvers likes the idea of paying tribute to Kralicek on his birthday and believes it could provide a big boost for him. 

“Community support would probably go a long way to make sure he knows we haven't forgotten him or what happened,” McEvers said.  

Kastning said as it has been nearly 20 years since Kralicek was shot, it seemed the right time to do something special for him and his wife. 

Along with cards, she would love it if folks might contribute a gift, perhaps something simple like paying for yard care, which Carrie handles.

“Anything that anybody has it in their heart to do,” Kastning said. 

Send cards to: Officer Kralicek, C/O Bold 4 Blue Idaho, 9030 N. Hess, No. 205, Hayden, ID 83835.