State bestows Medal of Honor on Sgt. Greg Moore
COEUR d’ALENE — Sgt. Greg Moore is receiving the Idaho Medal of Honor posthumously.
The Idaho Medal of Honor Commission met Thursday and voted unanimously to bestow the award on Moore, Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White wrote in an email to his staff.
Moore, a Coeur d’Alene police officer, was murdered in May 2015 while on patrol.
White wrote:
“The discussion surrounding this award centered on two key points: First, Sgt. Moore was killed in the line of duty, which is one criteria by which a person may be considered for this award. Second, although Sgt. Moore was in a supervisory role and could have simply taken more of an administrative attitude towards his duties, he was actively patrolling the streets of our community in the middle of the night in an effort to keep our community safe. His leadership example was not only an inspiration for the police officers who served with him prior to the tragic events of that night, it continues to serve as a reminder that our primary role is that of a protector of our citizens and our community.
About a year ago, I was asked to speak about what the badge stands for, what it means to be a police officer, and the purpose of the badge pinning ceremony. Greg was foremost in my mind when I wrote this:
‘The badge itself stands for honor and pride, dedication and bravery, courage and compassion, service and integrity. The badge represents not just our calling, but it is a constant reminder of the people we protect and serve. It is recognition of the nobility of policing and reverence to our roles as guardians of our communities. And it is an acknowledgement of those who have come before us, who have shown compassion and bravery, been bloodied, cried, and sometimes died upholding the honor behind that badge.’
It is more than a piece of metal on our chest. It represents our dedication to professional police service, and that we stand for something greater than ourselves.
From my perspective, the honor bestowed upon Sgt. Greg Moore today is more than an acknowledgement of his service and sacrifice, it is homage to the dedication to duty, professionalism, and bravery that you all display on a daily basis.
Thank you all for your extraordinary service.”
In 2004, the Idaho Legislature approved legislation designed to honor those who put their own lives in danger to save others. Senate Bill 1260 established the Idaho Law Enforcement and Firefighting Medal of Honor. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne in April 2004 then amended in 2005 to make emergency medical service providers eligible for the award.