Police eye designs for new building

The city of Coeur d’Alene is hoping to request design bids soon to rebuild a police building filled with vehicles, gear and equipment that was destroyed in a fire last year.  

“The sooner we can get the building in,” the sooner we can get things back to normal, said Capt. Dave Hagar.  

Despite losses estimated in the millions in the June blaze, police have maintained daily patrols and operations.  

“There has been no reduction in service to the community,” Hagar said. 

The building was the home of code enforcement, animal control and the police department's IT division. It also housed the department's special teams equipment including the SWAT Bearcat vehicle and incident command trailer. 

Police lost about 10 vehicles in the blaze, nearly 100 laptops, new e-bikes and everything associated with its canine program.    

The new police building, which could be standing next year, will have a sprinkler system, which its predecessor did not because when it was acquired in 2016, a sprinkler system wasn't required as it was predominately used for storage.   

The fire had more of an impact on the department's special operations.

Hagar said while most of the vehicles have been replaced, police won’t have another armored unit for at least a year. A new one was ordered in August but it takes up to about 18 months to get it.  

It is still in the process of purchasing new laptops and video and body cameras. The fifth-wheel trailer used at large events has not been replaced and may not be for some time.  

The fire department has loaned the police department space to store equipment. Animal control and code enforcement have found some temporary housing. 

“We’re still behind the eight ball on a few things,” Hagar said. 

It is working with its insurance carrier, ICRIMP, on recovering from the losses.

A battery from one of the new e-bikes for the Coeur d'Alene Police Department was blamed for the fire.

“This was an unfortunate and unexpected failure that caused the fire and is being ruled an accident,” State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl said in a press release.