COEUR d’ALENE — Mayor Steve Widmyer and city officials launched a fundraiser to generate enough money to build a water feature at McEuen Park to honor Sgt. Greg Moore, who was killed in the line of duty last year.

“It really is an important day to be here,” Widmyer said during a press conference announcing his “#$27 for K27” memorial fundraiser at McEuen Park Thursday afternoon.

Back from a trip to Washington, D.C., Widmyer said he attended the 35th annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Sunday where he learned that 130 police officers died in the line of duty last year.

“That means there are 130 families, 130 groups of friends and 130 communities suffering that loss,” he said, adding the local community understands that grieving. “We in Coeur d’Alene suffered a loss last year.”

Widmyer said since Sgt. Moore’s death, he has wanted to do some type of memorial to honor the Coeur d’Alene Police officer, as well as all the other officers who have fallen before him.

He and retired Sgt. Christie Wood came up with the $27 donation plan to fund a $750,000 water feature honoring Moore, whose call number was K27.

Widmyer said they are hoping people will donate in $27 increments, whether individually or $27 per family member or $27 per employee for businesses that want to participate.

The mayor said he will focus on the general public donations, while Sgt. Wood is going to work with police associations nationwide to secure donations.

“We have been talking about doing something with challenge coins,” she said, explaining she hopes to gather challenge coins from police associations across the country and try to incorporate those coins into that water feature design.

Landscape architect Jon Mueller was also at the press conference to explain his water feature design. He took his inspiration from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The water feature will start with three waterfalls located just south of the “rainbow” sculpture near the intersection of Fourth Street and Front Avenue.

Mueller said the waterfalls represent the National Law Enforcement Memorial motto: “Respect. Honor. Remember.”

“The water will fall to a stream that will incorporate the thin blue line,” he said, explaining how the thin blue line is a term used to describe law enforcement’s role in protecting law abiding citizens from criminal elements.

Mueller said a laser or fiber optics may be used as the source of the blue line. The stream will meander south past several areas where people can sit and reflect upon the memorial.

Down near the Harbor House, there will be a pool, where the water collects before it is pumped back to the waterfalls.

The pool area will have stones with quotations etched into them, as well as an interactive piece designed to honor all fallen officers.

Widmyer said a bank account has been set up through the Panhandle Parks Foundation at Community First Bank to accept contributions. Donations can be dropped off at any branch. Donors can also visit the Coeur d’Alene Police Department Facebook site or the Coeur d’Alene Police Officers Association Facebook site to access WeFund4U.com and make a donation with a debit or credit card. The city will also accept a personal check.

Contributions can be sent to: Sgt. MooreMemorial, at 710 Mullan Ave. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Local businesses that want to participate can contact Widmyer, Wood or Coeur d’Alene Police Association President Nick Lowry at (208) 661-5008, or by email at: nic.lowry@cdapoa.org.