Don't fret over retirements, resignation of law enforcement leaders

We’ll ask the questions that most people are likely wondering about these days:

What’s with the sudden rash of retiring or resigning leaders of our law enforcement agencies? Is there something strange afoot? Should we be alarmed?

Let’s recap: 

Shoshone County Sheriff Holly Lindsey resigned last week after being involved in a noninjury, hit-and-run crash in Osburn. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. Lindsey was appointed in 2022 to replace the late Sheriff Mike Gunderson and had served as a Shoshone County law enforcement officer for the past 21 years. 

Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White recently announced his retirement, effective in January. He had been on the job 11 years and in law enforcement for 33 years. He came here from the Mesa Police Department and was instrumental in efforts that substantially reduced crime in the city.

Greg McLean retired as Post Falls police chief Oct. 18, capping a 36-year law enforcement career. He spent three decades with Post Falls police, serving as a motor officer, field training officer, detective, patrol sergeant, patrol lieutenant and captain. He became police chief in 2021. 

Earlier this year, Tomi McLean retired as Rathdrum’s police chief, ending a 33-year career in law enforcement. She was appointed as the first female Rathdrum police chief in 2016. She began as a reserve officer in Post Falls and Rathdrum in 1991 and has served exclusively in Rathdrum since 1994. 

It’s unfortunate that in a short time, all four have left or will be leaving this field. Together, they have more than 100 years of law enforcement experience, which is hard to replace. 

We shouldn't be surprised. These are high-pressure jobs. Those who hold them face high demands and even higher expectations. Their words, actions and the results of their departments were and are held under a microscope. The pressure of the posts must be tremendous, and the vision of relaxing on a beach somewhere, maybe a boat cruise, are among the perks of retirement that can’t be ignored for too long. 

That could be bad news for residents and good news for criminals that leading crimefighters are stepping aside, but it's not. Capable hands are and will be stepping up.

Capt. Jason Mealer will serve as the interim Post Falls police chief. Undersheriff Lance Stutzke will be interim SCSO sheriff. Dan Haley, a Coeur d’Alene police detective, was recently hired as Rathdrum’s police chief. Coeur d’Alene’s police department certainly has people within who are deserving of the chief role and we're confident they will find the right person.

While we agree it’s unusual to have three police chiefs and a sheriff retire or resign so close together, we don’t see it as alarming. We see it as unfortunate, but no cause for worry.