A new regional task force created to tackle property crimes and burglaries didn't originally include city police agencies on the Idaho side, but Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Thursday that wasn't intentional and the group is open to more members.

When the task force was announced Wednesday, the members included multiple Spokane-area agencies, including city departments, and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office was the only agency included on the Idaho side.

But Knezovich said the Idaho omissions weren't intentional and the idea started as just Spokane County agencies and grew to include the KCSO based on Knezovich's meeting last week with Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger on common wire theft issues.

"It was a fortuitous meeting (to talk about crime)," he said. "If others are interested in joining, we'd be happy to have them."

Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug and Coeur d'Alene Chief Wayne Longo said they first heard about the task force when a press release was issued on the group's formation. They declined to comment on their reaction to not being originally asked, but indicated Knezovich contacted them about joining after The Press inquired about the group.

"The concept (of a regional task force) is a great idea, property crime is up across the region and working together to solve these crimes is what the public expects," Haug said. "Regardless of our official participation in this task force, we will help whenever and however we can going forward. I hope to get together with the other agencies and get a chance to discuss thoughts and expectations."

The task force was implemented due to the amount of property crimes committed throughout Kootenai and Spokane counties. "Agencies involved with this unit will share intelligence and data with the anticipated result of targeting times, locations and persons committing property crime in our region," a Spokane County press release states. "Based on this information, agencies will focus resources strategically to combat this type of criminal activity and also to educate the public so citizens are aware of issues within their community."

Kootenai County Lt. Stu Miller said metal thefts is an example of how agencies on both sides of the border can collaborate.

"Kootenai County has been experiencing a high volume of copper wire thefts on the prairie," Miller said.

Idaho State Police Capt. Curtis Kastens said his agency would not participate on the task force unless it's connected with one of ISP's ongoing investigations.

"Our primary focus is narcotic investigations, and narcotics and property crimes a lot of the time involve the same individual committing both acts," he said.

Knezovich said, as budgets have become tighter, agencies have been partnering to make funds stretch and the new task force is an example of that. He said the task force should have been formed sooner because crime knows no boundaries and Kootenai and Spokane counties share crime trends of common interest. Oftentimes, suspects have committed alleged criminal activities in both counties.

"This is something we should be exploring more," he said. "Working together makes sense. The sky is the limit on what we as a region can do."