On
June 23, 1998, the State
of Idaho, and all of America laid to
rest yet
another officer killed in the line of
duty. Idaho
State
Trooper Linda Huff was killed on
Wednesday June 17,
1998, after she exited the back door of
the Idaho
State Police District One office in
Coeur d' Alene,
Idaho. She had just finished writing
reports, and
was headed out to her car, which was no
more than
30'
from the door. The dispatchers heard a
cry for help
on the radio, and one dispatcher ran out
the back
door to see what was going on and saw
the gunman
standing over Trooper Huff's body. The
dispatcher
then ran back inside and got on the
radio and
summoned for officer down assistance
from her other
officers and from the deputies and
officers of the
Kootenai County Sheriff's Dept. and the
Coeur d'
Alene Police Dept. A Kootenai County
Sergeant was
there within approximately two minutes,
and Trooper
Linda Huff was pronounced dead on scene.
She had
fired off 9 rounds from her service
weapon, striking
the suspect twice, in the neck and
shoulder. The
suspect fired 15 times, then reloaded,
and as
Trooper Huff lay on the ground, he put
his pistol to
her
right temple and fired. Trooper Huff was
struck
approximately 10 times, the last being
the fatal
shot.
Within minutes of the Sheriff's Dept.'s
arrival, the
suspect was in custody without
incident. He is alive
today ONLY because he did everything the
arresting
officers requested him to do. He is
currently in
Kootenai County Medical Center charged
with 1st
degree murder of a peace officer in the
line of
duty, a capital offense here in the
State of Idaho.
He will recover from his wounds, and
with any luck,
be put to death for his crime.
I am
a police,
fire, and medical dispatcher for
Kootenai County,
and that night our department handled
that call; our
county deputies were there making the
arrest, our
city officers were investigating, and
our medical
teams were tending to the victim and
suspect.
These are just the facts, nothing more
than
statistics; and some of you who read
this wont be
bothered by it in the least. But I want
everyone who
sees this page to come away with
something more than
just the facts. The people involved in
law
enforcement are special people, they
give their
lives for the rest of us to feel safe in
ours. Give
them a
word of thanks next time you see them;
dig deep down
in your pocketbooks when you see a fund
raiser or a
memorial fund. Don't gripe and moan at
the officer
who gives you a ticket...that's not the
only time
you've been speeding, but you finally
got caught.
Boise City Police Officer Mark Stahl was
killed last
September on a traffic stop, both
occupants of the
car that was pulled over came out
shooting; EVERY
officer is faced with that EVERY time
they pull
someone over, even when they come up to
YOUR car.
Think about what they do for you to feel
safe going
about your own life...they're not going
to catch
every bad guy, every burglar, every
shoplifter, but
give them credit for risking their lives
trying!!!!!
As more
information becomes
available in regards to this incident,
it will be
posted here...please check back
often.
Update....Scott
Yager, the accused in this heinous
crime, has plead innocent to all
charges, and will be using the services
of the Kootenai County Public Defender.
7/29/98
During the first part of
January, 1999, it is decided that Scott
Yager is fit to stand trial, District
Judge James Judd presiding. Motions
made by the Public Defender, John Adams,
are denied and include the following:
change of venue, suppressing blood
samples taken from Yager without a
warrant on the night of the murder and
his arrest, a review of the personnel
records of Idaho State Trooper Linda
Huff, suppression of statements made by
Yager during his arrest (can you say
"you have the right to remain
SILENT"?!?!) , and suppression of
evidence from a search of Yager's
home.
1/25/98 Jury Selection
Process starts in courtroom 1, Kootenai
County Courthouse.
Update...Trial and Verdict
