WALLACE — Shoshone County Sheriff Holly Lindsey submitted her resignation to Shoshone County commissioners Wednesday, according to a release posted to the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. 

A Kootenai County Sheriff's Office press release stated that Lindsey had been involved in a hit-and-run crash while off-duty in her personal vehicle Tuesday. 

"The crash involved her vehicle striking a fixed object," the release said. 

No injuries were reported.

The incident is under investigation by the KCSO.

Lindsey’s resignation has not yet been officially accepted. Commissioner Jeff Zimmerman confirmed he will meet Thursday with Undersheriff Lance Stutzke and Prosecutor Ben Allen to discuss the next steps. 

In her statement, Lindsey reflected on her career and expressed hope for the department’s continued success. 

“I have been serving as a Shoshone County Law Enforcement Officer for the past 21 years, and it has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Lindsey said. “I have watched as this county and sheriff’s office has constantly strived to improve upon itself. We stand by our family, friends, and neighbors through the good times and the hard times. I have loved this community with everything that I have, but it is with a heavy heart that I must resign from the position of the Shoshone County Sheriff. I appreciate the community and fellow first responders that have supported me throughout my career. It is with great hope that I have left our beautiful county better than when I started. I ask for the continued support of our Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the team that will continue to provide law enforcement excellence for many years to come.” 

Stutzke is expected to serve as interim sheriff until the commissioners appoint someone to complete Lindsey’s term. Lindsey was elected to her first four-year term last November.

The process for filling the vacancy is complex. Because Lindsey was elected as a Democrat, the Shoshone County Democratic Committee must submit three qualified candidates to the commissioners within 15 days of the official vacancy. The commissioners then have 15 days to make a selection. If they fail to do so, the decision returns to the party committee, which also has 15 days to act. 

If no appointment is made during that time, the decision falls to Gov. Brad Little.