Kootenai County Sheriff's Office

09/15/2026

Thank You for Coming Together on 9/11

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest gratitude to everyone who attended, supported, and participated in our 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on September 11, 2026.

A special thank you to the Gold Star Families who joined us as we honored their loved ones and recognized the sacrifices made by their families. It was an honor to have you with us.

We are incredibly grateful to the many first responders and veterans who attended in uniform to stand together in remembrance and show their support. Your presence was a meaningful reminder of the strength and unity of those who serve our communities.

A heartfelt thank you to our Guest Speaker, KCFR Chief Pete Holley, and our Keynote Speaker, Joey Lowe, for sharing your meaningful words, personal experiences, and reflections with our community. Your messages helped make this ceremony a powerful and memorable tribute to those we remember and honor.

We also want to thank Buffalo Speedway for their powerful live performance of “I’ll Stand.” Your music added a meaningful and memorable element to the ceremony and helped us honor those who serve, those who take a stand, those we have lost, and the families who continue to carry their legacy.

A special thank you to Buck Knives for providing specialty knives for our Gold Star Families, each engraved with the name of their fallen service member. This thoughtful tribute will serve as a lasting reminder of their loved one, and the sacrifice made in service to our nation.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to all of our sponsors who helped support the ceremony. Your generosity and thoughtfulness helped make this ceremony even more meaningful. Thank you to Lasting Arts Productions for putting together this incredible event recap video.

And finally, thank you to everyone who showed up, supported, and joined together with us on 9/11/26. Your presence helped us honor those we lost, recognize the sacrifices of our military and first responders, and ensure that the memory of September 11, 2001, continues to be remembered.

We remember. We honor. We stand together. We will never forget.

Your Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office will never forget.

09/15/2026

Honoring North Idaho’s Heroes

On September 1, 2026, the State of Idaho recognized extraordinary courage and sacrifice by presenting the Idaho Medal of Honor to five North Idaho first responders for their heroic actions during the tragic events on Canfield Mountain on June 29, 2025.

Kootenai County Deputies Ballman, Brock, and Orr, were presented the Idaho Medal of Honor by Attorney General Raul Labrador and Governor Brad Little in recognition of their courageous and selfless actions. These deputies demonstrated exceptional courage, dedication, and selflessness in the face of grave danger, placing themselves in harm’s way to protect others.

Fire Captain Ernst Fritz Wiedenhoff with the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District and Engineer David Tysdal with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department were also honored with the Idaho Medal of Honor in recognition of their courageous and selfless actions.

We honor their courage, recognize their sacrifice, and express our deepest gratitude for their service to our community and the people of Idaho.

Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

09/15/2026

Kootenai County Sheriff Announces Selection of Experienced Law Enforcement Executive for Undersheriff

Kootenai County, Idaho - Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris announced today that he has selected Craig Meidl to serve as Undersheriff of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.

Undersheriff Meidl brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience, including service as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, assistant chief and chief of police.

Craig spent approximately 30 years with the Spokane Police Department, advancing through virtually every level of the organization before serving as Chief of Police from 2016 through January 2024. He has experience working with community organizations, government officials, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels. His previous responsibilities also included personnel management, training, internal affairs, policy implementation, operational oversight and budget administration.

As Spokane Police Chief, the candidate was responsible for an organization consisting of approximately 352 commissioned officers, 100 non-commissioned employees and more than 50 volunteers, with oversight of an approximately $90 million police budget.

His previous Spokane assignments included patrol, tactical operations, special investigations, SWAT, traffic, detective work, school resource operations, patrol supervision, crisis intervention, internal affairs, precinct command, operations support and executive administration.

Sheriff Norris said the experience of leading large law enforcement organizations and working with local, state and federal public-safety partners was an important consideration in selecting the new Undersheriff. “The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office is a complex organization serving a rapidly growing community,” Sheriff Norris said. “The Undersheriff must be able to lead people, manage resources, work effectively with our law enforcement partners and, most importantly, understand that our responsibility is to the citizens we serve.”

Sheriff Robert B. Norris
By: Lisa Roberts

09/12/2026

A big thank you to our friends and Kootenai County’s very own.. Buffalo Speedway for performing their incredible song “I’ll Stand” during our 9/11 Memorial Ceremony.

09/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our 9/11 Memorial Ceremony today! If you missed the ceremony, you can watch it here.

09/11/2026

See you TODAY at 11:00am at the Silver Lake Mall!

KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho - The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office is partnering with Black Sheep Sporting Goods and the Silver Lake Mall to host a September 11 Memorial Ceremony on Friday

09/09/2026

**UPDATE**
KCSO is requesting assistane in identifying the below individual, who may have information regarding the stolen Vespa.

09/07/2026

I was found on 9/6/26 near W Seasons Rd and N Moose St.
If you are this pet’s owner and would like to redeem them, please contact the Companions Animal Center at 10275 N Atlas Rd, 208-772-4 019. Or if you know who my family is/ have information that would help us to locate their family, please contact the Sheriff's Office at 208-446-1300 option #2.

Please remember to license your dogs(s) annually as required within Kootenai County. It facilitates a speedy return of your pets.

Case # 26-37697