PRIEST RIVER — Caleb Pfiester has had an exceptionally busy first month on the job as the Priest River Police Department's newest officer.

In the last week alone, Pfiester was instrumental in evacuating a home and neighborhood during a June 30 fire that destroyed the home. And if that wasn't enough, he assisted in the felony arrest of a resistant individual who had to be shocked with a Taser to be taken into custody.

Pfiester capped off the week by helping find a lost 86-year-old woman in the Hoo Doo Mountain Road area.

"It's been a pretty exciting week, just three weeks in," McLain told the council after introducing the new officer shortly before his badge pinning ceremony. "So he's having a lot of fun."

Originally from Michigan, the former Army National Guard member joined the department June 9 and is currently in the first phase of his training with the department, Priest River Police Chief Drew McLain told the council in introducing the officer at Monday's meeting.

Badge pinning ceremonies are a way to formally welcome an officer into a department. After an officer is officially sworn into office, they are presented their newly earned badge and a loved one pins it onto their uniform for the first time.

In Pfiester's case, his wife, Sierra, had the honor of pinning the badge onto the uniform.

Pfiester comes to the Priest River Police Department via Kootenai County, completing the North Idaho College Patrol Academy in 2023.

As part of the course, students must pair academics with things like physical fitness training, handling firearms and navigating high-speed vehicle courses.

The NIC Basic Patrol Academy is designed in a paramilitary academy format and accredited by the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. Classes meet five days a week for eight or more hours per day.

Approximately 50 law enforcement experts teach more than 60 topics from skills-based training to scenario drills.

North Idaho College offers three levels of certification in law enforcement, including a Basic Technical Certificate — which is awarded upon completion of the Basic Patrol Academy — an Intermediate Technical Certificate and an Associate of Applied Science degree.

"There's a very impressive amount of knowledge they are given and expected to know," Basic Patrol Academy Coordinator Mark Ellis said at the December 2023 graduation. "These new officers and deputies worked so hard to become certified peace officers."

In his first month with Priest River Police, McLain said the new officer has been paired with Officer Scott Kennedy. Pfiester will then be partnered with the police chief for an additional four weeks of training.