Rights Champion Dies

Larry Broadbent never fit the law enforcement stereotype. He tried the tough act, but people who knew him saw his big heart guiding him like a proud dog owner leads his pup.

Early Thursday, that big heart gave out after Broadbent’s nine-month battle with lung cancer. He was 57.

The morning dawned with appropriate gloom. The loss was immeasurable.

“North Idaho and the whole area is now, and has been for a number of years, a safer place because of Larry Broadbent,” said Bill Wassmuth, who directs the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment.

Broadbent came to Coeur d’Alene in 1980 to identify white supremacists. His resume showed everything needed by a region fighting a rise in hate crimes: 20-plus years in law enforcement in Idaho, including four years as a senior investigator specializing in hate crimes with the attorney general’s office.

His presence was even more impressive. Formidable in size, Broadbent spoke quietly and knowledgeably. It wasn’t long before Kootenai County’s new undersheriff was recognized nationally as an expert on hate groups.

But Broadbent took his work far beyond the sheriff’s office. When white supremacists sprayed threatening graffiti on a Hayden Lake restaurant owned by a Jewish man, Broadbent helped start the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. He remained a board member until his death.

He was one of the architects of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, served on the state Human Rights Commission and helped make recordable the hate reasons behind crimes.

“He had a burning drive to promote equality,” said Tony Stewart, who worked closely on human rights issues with Broadbent. “We could not have done all the things we did without him.”

Broadbent reaped state and national awards and helped the nation see Coeur d’Alene as a human rights haven rather than a mecca for bigots.

After his boss was voted out of office in 1990, Broadbent lost his job and some of his momentum. Jobs were scarce, so he headed back to school.

But Skip Kuck, a fellow task force activist, knew she could count on Broadbent any time.

“I was concerned about security for a gay and lesbian youth conference,” she said. “He made suggestions and said, ‘I’ll be home if you need me. You only need to call me. I’ll be there.”’

Sometime Thursday morning, a sadness settled over those who had known him, known of him. But Larry Broadbent died content.

He told Stewart last fall he had more work to do before he died. He went to the coalition’s convention in October and learned that all law enforcement agencies in the state now are recording the hate reasons behind crimes.

“He said he had closure - those were his words,” Stewart said. “He went in peace.”

Larry Ronald Broadbent is survived by his wife, Grace, and their children, Kari Sleight of Payette, Idaho; James Todd Broadbent of Ontario, Ore.; Claudia Taylor of Moorhead, Minn.; Linda Erickson of Spokane; Leslie Aldolphsen of Boise; and Gloria Webb of Usk, Wash.

He also is survived by 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brothers Kenneth Broadbent of Boardman, Ore., and Julian Broadbent of Caldwell, Idaho; and sisters Emily Langly of Boardman, Oleta Fuller of Boise and Myrna Perkins of Weiser, Idaho.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene.