Kramer elected Boundary County sheriff

Area residents selected former Bonners Ferry Police Chief David Kramer as their new Boundary County Sheriff at the polls on Tuesday, replacing sheriff Greg Sprungle, and outnumbering write-in candidate Dave Schuman.

Tallied votes came in at 1,133 to 3,769, in Kramer’s favor. In the primary election, Kramer earned 1080 votes to Sprungle’s 526, and Schuman’s 681.

Kramer, currently a police officer for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, will step down and take up his new post.

“We have a great community here,” Kramer said, “The people have given me this opportunity and it will be a privilege and an honor to serve them as sheriff.”

Kramer said he plans to lead the Sheriff’s Office into being more involved and proactive within the community, starting with all of the volunteer organizations.

As the current Vice-President of Boundary County Emergency Manager’s Association, which works with the entire First Responder community and manages grants from Homeland Security, along with preparing for, and helping during, times of disasters, Kramer knows the importance of having all hands on deck.

Having been part of the Boundary Volunteer Ambulance, Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team, since 1978, as well as working closely with all of the Boundary County fire departments, Kramer said he knows the importance of county volunteers.

“I really respect all of the volunteer groups that serve Boundary County and will make sure that they have the full support of the Sheriff’s Office,” Kramer said.

Kramer said one of the first challenges that he plans to address is getting the county jail re-certified.

“Currently, our coverage through the county’s insurance, has been reduced because the jail is not certified,” Kramer said, “For the safety of the inmates and our employees, we need to be in compliance with the recommended standards. Getting the jail certified is a top priority. I will begin implementing changes towards accomplishing this goal.”

Kramer began his law enforcement career in 1974 with the Boundary County Explorer post. At 18, he was serving as a reserve officer with the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, and a cadet with the Coeur d’Alene City Police Department, while taking criminal justice courses at North Idaho College.

During the summer, he served in a public relations capacity for the U.S. Forest Service, patrolling and providing a law enforcement presence in area campgrounds.

In 1978, the late Bonners Ferry Police Chief Don Hamilton hired Kramer at only 19 years old.

“Back then, the department bought their ammo from Lindsay Helmer Hardware and you had to be 21,” Kramer said. “I remember the chief sending me down there to buy ammo. Lindsay said he couldn’t sell it to me. He sent me back down to the department and said the chief had to come buy it.”

By the end of 1979, Kramer had graduated from the Idaho Basic Patrol Academy, and was working his way up the ladder.

After only four years with the department, Hamilton appointed Kramer as the department’s assistant police chief. He worked under Hamilton for 10 years, six of those years as the assistant chief.

After Hamilton’s retirement in 1988, Kramer underwent an interview process and was selected to be the replacement police chief.

Kramer served the city of Bonners Ferry for 30 years, 20 years as police chief, before retiring in 2008.

Kramer holds an Executive level certification, which is the highest level of law enforcement certification issued by the Idaho Peace Officers Standards, and has a degree in Criminal Justice from North Idaho College.

Kramer was appointed as a special investigator for the Idaho Attorney General’s Complex Crimes Task Force under Attorney General Larry Ecohawk, which focuses primarily on white collar crime.

He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1999, an 11-week law enforcement leadership program on the Marine Corp. base in Quantico, Va. Only one percent of the nation’s law enforcement officers are selected to attend the academy, and there is a three-year waiting period after receiving a nomination.

Kramer was selected by the Idaho State Attorney General office, and sworn in as an investigator for the Complex Crimes Task Force, which primarily focuses on white collar crime. He was also a Regional Crime Lab intern, which served law enforcement agencies in North Idaho, and other states, with evidence processing prior to the state implementing its own lab.

“I’ve received a lot of peer support over the years and they have entrusted me with some great leadership opportunities,” Kramer said. “I’ve been blessed to have had a great career with many training opportunities. And, I’ve been very fortunate and have had the opportunity to work with some great law enforcement officers and to have been part of some very professional teams,” Kramer said. “I believe you never stop learning and I’m looking forward to this new chapter, as sheriff, and doing the best job I can for Boundary County.”

Days prior to the election, one member of the Kootenai Tribe, who asked to remain anonymous, said Kramer will be missed.

“The kids love him — everyone does,” he said. “In fact, I’m not going to vote for him,” he laughed, “Nah, I’m kidding. Dave is the best. We just say that because we don’t want him to go. I know he will still be our sheriff, but it won’t be the same; he won’t be right next door.”

Kramer said it has been an honor to serve the Kootenai Tribe and will continue to work closely with the community and police department, along with the rest of the county. His vision for the Sheriff’s office is to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the community, and creating an environment where law enforcement are proud to serve.

“I don’t want to create a legacy for myself, but I would like to create a legacy for all those that serve and wear a badge, or work in law enforcement,” Kramer said. “I would like law enforcement to again be recognized as a noble profession, where integrity, trust, respect, fairness, honor, and service to others is the standard for all that choose to protect and serve. We need to rebuild public trust. That is what I want as your sheriff.”