School officers join broader community action team in Coeur d’Alene

School’s out for summer, and the school cops are headed to the beach.

Crowds flocking to downtown Coeur d’Alene, City Beach, Tubbs Hill and nearby parks this summer will be greeted by six of the city’s school resource officers. They volunteered for a pilot program to beef up patrols of those popular destinations, tackling problems such as heavy drinking, loitering, fighting, property crimes and dogs at large.

The officers, assigned to Coeur d’Alene schools most of the year, will spend part of their shifts as ambassadors, talking with business owners and people on the street, Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White said.

“These are basically the jacks of all trade. They are going to be our problem-solvers and our relationship builders for the city,” White said. “Toward the evening hours, this group will also assist the patrol folks with the downtown area and the problems that are associated with a few of our bars.”

In past summers the department used reserve officers teamed with fulltime officers on downtown bike patrols. White wanted to try another approach – an agile “community action team” that goes where it’s needed.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do this summer,” he said. “For the most part we’re going to turn them loose and let them impress us with their ability and with their creativity.”

Det. Bryan Alexander, who works at Venture High School, pitched the idea last summer after White was hired. The new chief was familiar with the concept from his previous job as assistant police chief in Mesa, Arizona.

“We all believe in this project and what we can accomplish for the community this summer,” Alexander said.

The officers began last week, working in three teams on staggered shifts covering 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through early Sunday morning.

They will be on foot, on bike and in patrol cars, and sometimes will work in plain clothes rather than uniform. They will be visible at the Wednesday farmers market, the Friday art walk, outdoor concerts and movies in the park, and other special events.

“We’re going to be seeking the community’s help to tell us the problems and where they think we need us,” said Det. John Spranget, the Coeur d’Alene High School-based resource officer.

The teams will pay close attention to alcohol-related problems as daytime drinking on the lake shifts to downtown-area bars in the evening.

“It does drive our crime rates up,” White said. “It is problematic for officers, because instead of out trying to handle the burglars or something like that, they’re dealing with someone who has had way too much to drink and decides they want to fight anybody in sight.”

The police department met earlier this year with bar owners to talk about efforts to curb serving intoxicated customers. Officers will work closely with Idaho State Police alcohol control officers this summer on compliance.

“We don’t want to have to be heavy handed, obviously, because it’s not fun for anybody,” Spranget said. “But we’ll do what we got to do to keep the community safe and fun for everyone to be around this summer.”

Another tool to address downtown problems is a new city ordinance prohibiting loitering and other activities in city parking lots. The law, which took effect last month, was prompted by delinquent behavior in the covered parking lot at McEuen Park, but it also applies at Independence Point and other busy lots.

“I think that will help a ton,” Spranget said. “If you can’t hang out and do that kind of stuff out of your car, you can’t bump your music and hide your alcohol in your car, I think you’re going to have less of an issue.”

Alexander added, “We’re not going after families that are at McEuen enjoying their day and having a picnic at the car. It’s for the kids on skateboards or the cars racing through the parking lot.”

The officers also are reminding dog owners that their pets are not permitted in city parks, even on a leash, except on the Centennial Trail and in designated dog parks, such as the one at McEuen. Dogs on leashes also are allowed on Tubbs Hill.

Police see many people bring their dogs to City Park or McEuen Park and let them run in the grass, but that’s not permitted by city ordinance. Officer also will keep an eye on owners who neglect to clean up dog waste in public areas, and those who leave their pets in hot cars.

The officers will work off a weekly report, prepared by the department’s crime analyst, showing hot spots for criminal activity. That may include a rash of burglaries or graffiti.

Other days they may spend time tracking down people wanted on felony warrants.

Each officer brings some special skills to the task, including training in crowd control, drug recognition, explosives, hostage negotiation and child forensic interviews, said Sgt. Christie Wood, who supervises the school resource officers.

“These are very well-rounded officers, very experienced,” Wood said.

The summer program could evolve into a year-round team, based at the new police substation on East Sherman, if the city wins a federal grant to hire three more officers for a three-year period.

“It really can have a fantastic impact not only on crime rates but also our ability to connect with the public on a real level and make a difference,” White said.