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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community mourns, offers tributes for Moore

Reeling from the fatal shooting of a Coeur d’Alene police officer, the community expressed its heartache and paid tribute to the service of Sgt. Greg Moore in a range of gestures Wednesday.

People left American flags, flowers and heartfelt notes at the scene of Tuesday’s shooting on a quiet residential street and at police headquarters across the street from the elementary school where Moore’s widow teaches third grade.

They lined up by the hundreds at a coffee stand pledging to donate the day’s sales to the officer’s family, while hundreds more gave to a family fund that surpassed $66,000 in a little over a day.

And they gathered in a city park in the evening to show their appreciation and solidarity with the police and emergency services community.

Flags were lowered to half-staff across the region and at all state buildings in Idaho, and police placed black mourning bands over their badges.

Law enforcement honor guards from across the Northwest are preparing to travel to Coeur d’Alene for Moore’s funeral Saturday morning at Lake City High School.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department said it has received donations of food and cards of sympathy, as well as cash that will be set aside for Moore’s two children, a 1-year-old girl and a boy in sixth grade.

“The men and women who work here and their families are doing their best to provide comfort to each other and persevere,” the Coeur d’Alene police chief’s office said in a statement.

Some of the more poignant scenes of the day came when it was time to take Moore’s body to Spokane for an autopsy. Police officers from several agencies and employees of Kootenai Health, where Moore died Tuesday evening, lined the hospital hallway as English Funeral Home carried the body to a transport vehicle.

Coeur d’Alene officers escorted the vehicle down Interstate 90 to Providence Holy Family Hospital, and the procession grew larger along the way with officers joining in from neighboring agencies. People stood on freeway bridges and along Spokane streets to pay their respects as the motorcade passed with flashing police lights.

Coeur d’Alene police Chief Lee White issued a statement acknowledging the outpouring of support.

“We are humbled and overwhelmed by the kind response we have received from this community, and around the entire nation,” White said. “I wish to thank our surrounding law enforcement agencies for their continued support of our personnel.”

In particular he thanked the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office for answering many calls for service in the city and giving his officers time to grieve.

“I am extremely proud of our officers while they continue to carry out their oath to protect and serve this community,” White said.

Post Falls police Chief Scot Haug, whose department was heavily involved Tuesday in the pursuit and capture of Moore’s alleged shooter, said he saw officers put their emotions aside and collaborate to track down the suspect and prevent further violence.

“I’m sad today, I have a lot of emotions, but I’m also very proud of all the officers that were involved from where this happened in Coeur d’Alene all the way into Post Falls,” Haug said. “This could have been much worse.”

The Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Foundation continued to see donations for the Moore family pour in from across the Northwest and nation.

“It’s incredible. We had one donation from Australia,” said foundation president Addison Arce, a retired Los Angeles homicide detective who spent years investigating officer killings there.

The foundation began a decade ago to help the family of Coeur d’Alene police Officer Mike Kralicek, who was shot on the job in 2004 and suffered permanent disabilities.

Arce said Wednesday night the Moore family fund so far had raised $18,000 in an account at Umpqua Bank in Coeur d’Alene. In addition, more than $48,000 had been raised online.

At Ramsey Magnet School of Science, where Lindy Moore teaches, the school district’s Crisis Assistance Team was on hand Wednesday to help students and the staff. Teachers began the day reading a message to their students explaining that Moore’s husband “died last night after he was injured on the job on Tuesday. We feel very sad for Mrs. Moore and her family.”

Older students were assured that police had arrested a suspect. “We are all safe here,” the message continued. “We want to keep today as normal as possible for each of our students; we treasure you and are so glad you are here. If you are struggling in some way, please let me know, and I can get you some help.”

Following the message, the school observed a moment of silence.