The City of Coeur d'Alene began as a military post in the late 1870s when Camp Coeur d'Alene, later renamed Fort Sherman, was established to provide safety for the settlers traveling west.

When gold was discovered in 1878, many settlers arrived in the area. Steamboat traffic flourished on Lake Coeur d'Alene where the lakes and rivers were used to transport supplies to mining and lumber camps and move logs to the mill. The city also became a popular tourist destination bringing hundreds of Spokane, Washington residents by electric train to enjoy the parks, beaches and boat excursions.

The town's founding fathers soon realized law enforcement was essential to the growth and development of the community; and in 1887, the Coeur d'Alene Police Department was established. The first Town Marshal, Warren Baldwin, was hired in 1887; and by 1904, the first Chief of Police, Patrick McGovern, was appointed.

Nine Chiefs later, the Coeur d'Alene Police Department has flourished to more than 92 employees who provide a wide range of services to the residents and visitors of our city.