COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A drunk driving crackdown across Kootenai County will have extra meaning this year. As officers look for drivers over the legal limit, they’ll be remembering a family member of one of their own.
At a press conference on Monday, leaders with Idaho State Police announced multi-agency DUI emphasis patrols for the holiday season. During the patrols, participating agencies will staff extra officers who will look for impaired drivers. Participating agencies include ISP, Coeur d’Alene Police, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Post Falls Police, and others.
The emphasis patrols are being conducted in honor of the late Jacob Leeder. Leeder was the son of a Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy and died nearly a year ago at age 16. Leeder was riding in a car driven by his brother when they were struck by a drunk driver, fatally injuring Jacob.
"We know the damage and the pain that it causes,” said Captain John Kempf, ISP’s district 1 commander. The extra officers being brought on to conduct the emphasis patrols are working overtime and during normally scheduled days off. "These men and women wanted to dedicate their time to make this a better community. Making this a safer community,” Kempf said.
“They're out there, doing whatever they can to keep the public safe,” said Tim Leeder, Jacob’s father, adding that his family was moved by the decision to honor Jacob through the patrols. "Just driving down the road, anything could happen.”
"We remember Jacob every day,” said Leeder’s wife Wendy. “We just hope that this will save someone else's life in our community."
The emphasis patrols will occur over the next month.