PHOTO: Honor, humility and humble gratitude were worn like badges, stripes and stars during the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce's inaugural Public Safety Awards Luncheon on Wednesday.
Seven first responders were recognized for their outstanding service to their communities: Coeur d'Alene Police Officer Eric Boardman; Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police Lt. Robert Wienclaw; Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jacob Kremer; Kootenai County Fire and Rescue engineer/paramedic Mitchell Copstead; Post Falls Police Chaplain Jacque Panza; Idaho State Police Detective Cody Herman; Kootenai County EMS EMT/paramedic Thomas "Gabe" Eckert; and Coeur d'Alene Firefighter Ben Kaiser.
"The community support for our public safety officials, our first responders, has been tremendous," Coeur d'Alene Chamber President Derrell Hartwick said.