Former homicide detective cracks case of unexpected career change

With frigid temperatures outside and the wind howling across the Rathdrum Prairie this winter, former homicide detective Shea Robertson was inside the Kootenai Technical Education Campus showing high school students how to deal with frozen pipes and troublesome leaks.

Students from Coeur d’Alene and Lake City high schools carefully worked on a mock bathroom, turning wrenches as water began to flow through the system.

“You need to double-check everything,” said Robertson, KTEC’s plumbing instructor. “A little bit of moisture can cause big problems for a homeowner, including mold and water damage to flooring and walls.”

That attention to detail is something Robertson learned during his 29-year career in law enforcement in Southern California.

“I worked homicide for nine years with the Long Beach Police Department,” he said. “It’s quite a change going from investigating homicide cases to teaching plumbing to high school kids, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I love having the chance to teach them a trade and a skill they can use for life.”

“Even if they don’t go on to become plumbers, at least they know how to work on their own home or help friends or family members. That’s something they’ll always have.”

Plumbing has long been part of Robertson’s life. He began learning the trade as a teenager and later ran a small plumbing business while working in law enforcement.

“When I was 15, a neighbor who was a plumber got me started,” Robertson said. “That work helped me get through college. Once I became a police officer, I noticed a lot of coworkers had plumbing problems, and what they were being charged was ridiculous. I started my own business and found I really enjoyed it.”

After retiring from law enforcement three years ago and moving his family to North Idaho, Robertson planned to continue running his plumbing business. Instead, through new friendships, he connected with KTEC and was hired to launch the school’s plumbing program.

He brings the same discipline and commitment he used as a detective into the classroom, helping students prepare for in-demand careers.

“Students who complete this two-year program satisfy the first year of a plumbing apprenticeship,” Robertson said. “After high school, they only need three more years to earn their journeyman license.”

KTEC serves high school juniors and seniors from the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Lakeland Joint school districts, offering tuition-free career-technical programs in fields such as welding, construction, automotive technology, automated manufacturing, collision repair, diesel repair, health professions, and cybersecurity.

As a new course at KTEC, plumbing is already popular with students. During Robertson’s first year teaching during the 2024-2025 school year, eight students enrolled in the plumbing program. That number nearly doubled the following year. In summer 2025, Robertson also secured a $50,000 education grant that allowed the program to expand its tools and materials.

“That grant completely changed what we can do,” Robertson said. “Instead of just talking about tools or watching videos, students are now using the same equipment they’ll see in the industry.”

Info: ktectraining.org

    KTEC plumbing instructor Shea Robertson worked homicide for nine years with the Long Beach Police Department during his 29-year career in law enforcement in Southern California. He recently showed students how to manage frozen pipes and pesky leaks as they worked on a mock bathroom.