In remembrance: City eyes Independence Point for fallen firefighter dedication

An effort to establish a permanent memorial at Independence Point for John Morrison, a Coeur d’Alene firefighter of 28 years shot and killed in the line of duty, has come one step closer to reality.

On Monday, the Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the Panhandle Parks Foundation to “memorialize the parties' shared commitment to plan, fund, construct, and maintain” the permanent memorial, according to city documents.

“I am really happy this is moving forward,” Parks and Recreation Commissioner Christie Wood said. “This is something that will give our firefighters a place to go to remember their friend.”

It’s considered one of the darkest days in local history. 

On June 29, 2025, 20-year-old gunman Wess Roley used a brush fire he deliberately started at Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene as a ruse to lure in first responders. Armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, Roley then opened fire on responding crews.

Morrison, 52, a battalion chief, as well as Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank J. Harwood, 42, died instantly. Coeur d’Alene firefighter David Tysdal, 47, who remained on the radio with dispatch amid the shooting, was also critically injured.

Hours later, about 100 yards away from the shooting scene, Roley was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Community support, memorials and efforts have poured in ever since that fateful day. 

Less than a month after the ambush, Coeur d’Alene streets flooded with first responders, residents and a sea of American flags in a massive procession honoring Morrison and Harwood. Both the Kootenai County and Coeur d’Alene fire departments have since dedicated benches to the fallen firefighters.

Meghan Harwood, Frank Harwood’s wife, also started what’s called the FJH Initiative, which pairs middle and high school students with first-responder mentors to promote mental well-being.

Meanwhile, Tysdal, after retiring in January, received the Idaho State Medal of Honor for his actions during the ambush. Donations and volunteer labor also led to his Post Falls house being renovated into a “smart home,” which better caters to his accessibility needs.

The Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Department has been working with Morrison family representatives, co-workers, and other vested community parties to establish the Morrison memorial, city documents show.

According to Parks and Recreation Director Adam Rouse, the conceptual design has yet to be fully revealed and that a memorial for Harwood could be created if Kootenai County makes a proposal.

Rouse did say, however, that the spot designated for the planned Morrison memorial is on a small piece of land near the commercial dock at Independence Point.

Rouse said fellow city officials, like Coeur d’Alene City Council Member Kenny Gabriel, have toured the prospective spot.

“It’s just kind of an interesting little wedge of land that would actually lend itself really well to the concept that’s proposing right now,” Rouse said. 

Rouse also said there are some “really, really cool concepts” on how to fully transform the spot into the memorial.

“They’ve been kind of kicking those back and forth with the family, too,” he said. “Because that was one of the things that I had talked about with Councilman Gabriel was honoring what the family would like to see also.”

The parties understand that construction of the memorial is contingent upon the availability of sufficient funding through donations, grants, city contributions or other approved funding sources, according to city documents. Nothing in the MOU obligates either party to expend funds beyond those separately approved through its respective authorization processes. 

“It would be a really cool edition,” Rouse said of Morrison’s dedication. 

    Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Scott Cranston speaks on Monday.