by Michael J. Murphy

January 2008

Season’s Greetings from the entire Board of the Kootenai County Police & Fire Memorial Foundation Inc.

It is hard for me to believe that in two months it will be three years since the concept of our organization had its genesis. As you may recall, it began as a result of the shooting and serious injury to Coeur d’Alene Police Officer Michael Kralicek. Within a few months of that incident, a twelve member Board was formed and established. The purpose of that Board was, in part, to provide for the financial needs of first responders that had been injured or killed within Kootenai County. Thanks to local attorney Charles Dotson and Steve McCaughan of the accounting firm of Clark, Anderson, McNelis and Co., our Foundation was granted its State of Idaho incorporation as well as its Non-profit Public Charity Status by the Internal Revenue Service.

As most of you may already know, we have had numerous fundraisers since our inception. They consisted of a dinner/dance as well as two golf tournaments. All of these events, as wee as personal and corporate donations have netted the Foundation in excess of $72,000.00 These are funds specifically aimed at assisting first responders with Kootenai County.

When we began the foundation, our Founders (all outside agency-retired police personnel) opted to lay the groundwork of the foundation, and then return to our retirement status. To that end we have begun to search for community members who would take the organization to the next level beginning in 2008. It has always been our intention to have local Board members that would make decisions that affect local police and fire personnel. If you have an interest in furthering the mission of the Foundation, please contact one of our Board members and advise them of your interest.

It is very difficult for me to put into words, the feelings I have after three years of participation with the foundation. as its first President. I, and the Board are extremely proud of what has been accomplished.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful holiday season and for an even better 2008.

Michael J. Murphy     

 

April 2006

As this is the first message from our Foundation, it seems fitting that we look back to January 25, 2005, where this all began. On that evening a benefit was conducted at the Coeur d’Alene Inn to assist Officer Michael Kralicek of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department who had been seriously wounded while conducting an arrest in our community. The turn-out for this event was amazing, with over $100,000 raised to assist this officer and his family. It was during this event that I learned that, other than insurance, there was nothing in place to assist police and firefighters, should they become injured or killed in the line of duty.

Shortly after that time I learned of retired LAPD Sergeant Gene McCloskey’s experience with the LAPD Memorial Foundation. Gene and I decided to start a similar Foundation in Kootenai County. One of our goals was to attract community leaders who would see the value of what we were trying to do. It was at this point that we were approached by Bud Arce (LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division) and Eric Schubert (LAPD Narcotics Division) who volunteered to assist with the project. Over the next several months Gene and I approached several people that we knew would bring credibility, drive and initiative to our organization. We have succeeded in this phase beyond our initial goals. Thanks to the Robideaux family we were put in touch with local attorney Charles Dotson who donated his time and effort to obtain our State of Idaho Incorporation as well as our Federal tax-free status. Mr. Steve McCaughan, a CPA with the local firm of Clark Anderson McNelis & Co., stepped forward to oversee our financial activities. Mrs. Nancy Casemore of Wells Fargo Bank in Hayden has arranged accounts in the name of the Foundation.

In conclusion, we as members of the Foundation are looking forward to assisting our first-responders and their families with many of their needs.

Mike