COEUR d'ALENE - Travis Chaney's first taste of law enforcement came 40 years ago when he chased down an arson suspect and tackled the man.

"I was stationed in northern California for the Department of Forestry and our captain said to pay attention to who kept showing up (during the fire investigations)," Chaney said. "When I went to talk to him, he took off running.

"That experience got into my blood, and I thought, 'I kind of like this.'"

Chaney, an undersheriff for the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, has held nine positions with the agency for the past 37 years, and will retire June 30.

"It's been a great career and a great place to work," Chaney said. "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to help develop this department."

Chaney said the rewards of serving the community and being an example to others are what have kept him at the KCSO for so long.

"I'm the type of person who believes that, if things can be improved, you can have great influence if you decide to stay," he said. "I'm big on teamwork to achieve goals."

After he retires, Chaney plans to teach law enforcement classes for the Performance Leadership Institute in Oregon and spend time with family.

Chaney has worked under four different Kootenai County sheriffs, including Rocky Watson, Merph Stalder, Pierce Clegg and Ben Wolfinger. Watson was the sheriff twice during Chaney's tenure.

"I've always looked at my role, even when I was a deputy, as being an adviser to the sheriff," Chaney said. "I'm going to share my opinion on what I think. I'm not a 'yes' person. It's important that the sheriff knows the good and the bad. That allows them to make better and more well-informed decisions.

"I'm a bit of a bulldog and not dissuaded easily. I believe in principles and doing the right thing."

Chaney, 61, speaks from experience.

He has headed up every department at the KCSO, including the jail, investigations, records, patrol and driver's licensing. He has also been a law enforcement instructor, dive rescue member, SWAT team leader and has served on several local, regional and national boards.

The capacity of the Kootenai County jail when Chaney started at the department was 50 in its former downtown Coeur d'Alene location. Today, the capacity at the jail on Government Way is 325.

Chaney was the operations commander during the Groene-McKenzie homicide investigations in search of convicted killer Joseph Duncan, an Aryan Nations trial and the Western Governor's Conference.

The search for Duncan, Chaney said, was the most exhausting experience he has ever had.

"We worked 18-hour days for weeks on end," he said. "Logistically, it was a very trying time."

Chaney was almost run over by an armed robber. He has responded to several fatalities, including those resulting from train-vehicle collisions, airplane crashes and drownings.

He credits staff, the community, his wife, Kathi, and other agencies for support over the years.

"Law enforcement is an honorable profession," Chaney said. "It can be tough on families and marriages, and that's where you have to be tenacious and work through the problems to try to solve them. But I realize time is marching on, and it's important for me to change my focus."