Police eye opioid task force

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Police Department is looking to add two positions so it can create an opioid task force.

"The police department interacts with people suffering from the effects of opioid use and abuse on a regular basis," Police Chief Lee White wrote in a report for the City Council.

White is scheduled to present the request to the council Tuesday. He is hoping to use Idaho Opioid Settlement funds to pay for the task force.

The annual personnel cost of the task force is estimated at $260,000.

In September 2021, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office requested that cities consider participating in a joint settlement agreement with three drug companies to compensate for the impact of opioids on communities. 

The total settlement amount for Idaho was $120 million. Forty percent of those funds were to be allocated to cities and counties that participated in the settlement and 20% goes directly to the health districts. 

The city’s share of those funds was $1.3 million, to be paid out in installments over 18 years, according to a city report.

In March 2022, the council voted to reallocate the city’s share of funds to the Panhandle Health District. 

"The reallocation of funds to Panhandle Health will continue until and unless the city takes action to revoke the reallocation," the report said.

The first distribution from the fund in 2022 was $251,847.22. Additional distributions are expected soon.

There are about $894,875 in outstanding payments that the city should expect, according to a staff report.

It is that money White would like for the task force to fund the two new positions in fiscal year 2024-25.

"We request to revoke the reallocation of funds to Panhandle Health in order to utilize those funds toward the creation of an Opioid Task Force," White wrote.

The task force's roles would include:

• Respond to overdose calls to provide assistance as listed below.

 • Provide assistance to overdose victims and family members affected by Opioid Use Disorder 

 • Conduct investigations into illicit opioid trafficking and distribution

• Provide training to public safety personnel and community groups regarding OUD, how to appropriately interact with those suffering from OUD

• Coordinate and engage nonprofits, health districts, health care providers, postconviction services, educators, school staff and/or first responders to help those entities provide assistance and resources to those with or recovering from OUD.

White said he has spoken with the attorney general’s office "and they indicated that our concept would be an acceptable use of those funds."

The City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Library Community Room.