A restored memorial garden in Coeur d’Alene was rededicated Wednesday to honor Idaho State Police Cpl. Linda Huff, who was fatally shot outside the ISP District 1 office 28 years ago — becoming the first female law enforcement officer in Idaho history to die in the line of duty.
The garden, located behind the Idaho Transportation Department facility in Coeur d’Alene, stands as a lasting tribute to a trooper whose courage under fire left a permanent mark on Idaho law enforcement. Huff was shot 17 times in the parking lot outside the district office on June 17, 1998. She was 33 years old, had served with the Idaho State Police for just 14 months, and was a mother of three married to a fellow state trooper. Despite her wounds, she returned fire and injured her attacker before succumbing to her injuries.
Her valor was recognized with the first-ever Idaho Law Enforcement and Firefighting Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously.
A Trainer Who Became a Student
Paul Berger, now commander of ISP District 1, was Huff’s first field trainer when she joined the agency. He attended Wednesday’s rededication and spoke about what that relationship meant to him. “I probably learned as much from Linda as she learned from me,” Berger said.
His remarks underscored the impact Huff had on those around her even in the brief span of her career. In less than 14 months on the force, she left an impression strong enough that her first trainer still carries her memory into his command role nearly three decades later.
Scouts Lead the Restoration Effort
The memorial garden’s restoration was spearheaded by Scouting America Troop No. 222 of Coeur d’Alene. Scout members provided the volunteer labor, while area businesses donated the materials needed to return the garden to a fitting condition for the rededication ceremony.
The project gave young community members a hands-on opportunity to learn about sacrifice and service. Scout member Avery Dix summed up the motivation simply: “We should honor her because she made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The community effort reflects the continued civic commitment to preserving the memory of those in North Idaho who gave their lives in service to the public.
A Region That Knows the Cost of Service
Huff’s story is one of several sobering reminders across the North Idaho region of the dangers faced by first responders. Wayne Longo, a former ISP trooper and investigations lieutenant who also served as a former Coeur d’Alene police chief, was among those connected to the ceremony. He has seen the human toll of law enforcement service across decades, including the death of Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore, killed in the line of duty roughly 11 years ago.
More recently, the region mourned the deaths of Coeur d’Alene Battalion Chief John Morrison and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, who were killed last June on Canfield Mountain. Their loss, along with Huff’s story, serves as a continuing reminder of the risks that public safety personnel accept every time they report for duty across Bonner and Kootenai counties and throughout the Idaho Panhandle.
What Comes Next
The rededicated memorial garden will remain open as a permanent tribute to Cpl. Huff outside the Idaho Transportation Department facility in Coeur d’Alene. ISP District 1 and community partners are expected to continue maintaining the space as both a point of reflection for law enforcement personnel and a reminder to the public of the price sometimes paid to keep Idaho communities safe. For North Idaho residents looking to honor their first responders, the memorial offers a tangible connection to the region’s law enforcement history and the individuals who shaped it.
Additional public safety coverage across the region is available at Sandpoint Man Struck by Train After Using Tracks as Shortcut, Airlifted to Hospital, and for the latest on regional emergency incidents, see Gold Run Fire Near Kellogg Reaches 20 Percent Containment as Evacuation Orders Lifted.