While Coeur d’Alene's new police chief is eager to get started, he isn't planning to revamp the department.

“I think it would be arrogant and premature of me to come in and say that there is something that needs to change," said Greg Yeager. "One of the reasons I have been so interested in this agency is that it is a highly functioning agency that obviously has driven crime down."

Yeager was selected last month by the City Council to replace Lee White, who retired. After accepting the city’s contingent offer, Yeager awaits final background check approval. June 1 is the tentative start date.

He is no stranger to Coeur d’Alene. He and his family have visited several times.

“We have had a wonderful impression,” he said. 

Yeager started his 30-year law enforcement career as a police officer in Oklahoma before moving to Colorado, where he served as deputy chief of the Fort Collins Police Department. He wants to spend the beginning of his Coeur d'Alene job learning from his officers.

“I am going to listen first. And then if there are things from my own agency’s experience that would complement what Coeur d’Alene is already doing very well, that would be my intent to weave those in,” he said.

One of these ideas is a stronger police academy presence in the region. Yeager's division at the Fort Collins Police Department developed their own police academy.

“I think there might be some things there where I could bring in the perspective, the trials and strains that go with launching your own academy,” he said. “I think there are things like that I feel very fortunate to have been a part of in Fort Collins that I think could be the beginning of conversations.” 

Yeager’s appointment did not come easy. It required a series of votes, a heated final meeting, and an outpour of public support for interim Police Chief Capt. Dave Hagar. He doesn't mind that he will walk into a job and city that voiced strong support for a different candidate. 

He said he has spoken with Hagar since the vote and said he has been “nothing but a consummate professional.” 

Controversy aside, Yeager believes he is well qualified for the position and looks forward to proving it.

“I don't have any trepidation about coming into an organization that has supported one of its own, that makes sense to me, and I think that is good and honorable,” he said. “I also believe that when I have the opportunity to be there and work with people, they’re going to see that I can complement what they are already doing.” 

Yeager was a first-year officer in Oklahoma for the Oklahoma City bombing and has taken part in the management of several other critical incidents. He believes his experience will benefit Coeur d'Alene.

Yeager has several philosophies when dealing with incidents. 

He subscribes to FEMA’s “All Hazards Approach” in dealing with them. He believes in acute relationship building and training across departments, first responders, response teams and other agencies. He also believes in strong debriefs to further his and the department's knowledge on how other agencies deal with incidents.  

“No matter what the incident has been in my career, or what has gone on in Coeur d’Alene, I have confidence that I have done those things in my past and would do those as I come into Coeur d’Alene,” he said. 

Idaho ranked inside the top five for gun ownership rates with an estimated 60% of its population owning at least one firearm. This is a sharp uptick from the estimated 45% in Colorado, where Yeager formerly served. 

Yeager is not concerned with the difference in ownership rates between the states. 

“The culture of the state is not concerning me at all. Not only do I not have any concerns about it, but my family and I have been looking forward to coming to North Idaho,” he said.