BONNERS FERRY — The Bonners Ferry City Council has authorized spending up to $11,832 for automated external defibrillators for the police department, a cost that will be fully reimbursed by the North Idaho Healthcare Coalition. Each police vehicle is now expected to be equipped with an AED at no net cost to the city. 

At the Dec. 2 council meeting, members unanimously approved the purchase. The police department currently has two AEDs, and the grant will provide six more. 

AEDs are portable medical devices that analyze a person’s heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock if needed to restore a normal heartbeat. 

Police Chief Willie Cowell said AEDs are not deployed frequently, but the department must be prepared. 

“I’ve been here for 18 years, 15 full time,” Cowell said. “I have been present probably a dozen times when AEDs have been used. It’s not a common occurrence.” 

“What I would hate is to be on the scene of an incident where someone is suffering and they need a defibrillator and not have it available,” he said. “That would stick with a guy forever.” 

The department learned it had received the grant award two weeks ago. Cowell credited Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Garrett, who wrote the grant proposal, for securing the reimbursement. 

The mission of the North Idaho Healthcare Coalition is to collaborate with healthcare partners across the 10-county region of north and north-central Idaho to strengthen emergency preparedness and response.   

“It’s a small price to pay for a life, if we are the ones on scene and EMS services are not available,” Cowell said.