Coeur d’Alene, ID: The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office was awarded the North Idaho Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) Seven Seals Award today. This award recognizes the Sheriff’s Office for its exceptional support of employees who are active members of the National Guard and Reserve. The Seven Seals Award is the broadest and most inclusive award given by ESGR and is presented at the discretion of the State Chair or by ESGR senior leadership.
The award was presented by ESGR Idaho Chair Bryan Bledsoe and ESGR Team Member Margaret Ogram. Ogram said prior to KCSO being nominated, she has been observing the Sheriff’s Office’s support of veterans and active service members for several years, along with Sheriff Wolfinger’ s community involvement. Based on her observations KCSO was nominated for the award and stated, “Sheriff Wolfinger isn’t just the Sheriff, he is our Sheriff.”
The Sheriff’s Office currently employs 48 veterans with 7 actively serving in the National Guard or Reserves. KCSO actively reaches out to veterans who are seeking employment through hiring events across the Northwest. After accepting the award from ESGR Sheriff Wolfinger said, “We don’t do what we do for accolades, we do it because it is the right thing to do for the right reasons.”
A special thank you to Bryan Bledsoe –Chair Idaho Area 1 ESGR, Robert Shoeman – Idaho Department of Labor Veterans Representative, Margret Ogram – ESGR team member Employer Outreach Idaho, Al Ogram – ESGR team member Employer Outreach Idaho, Denise Lunderstadt – Program Supervisor Idaho Department of Labor Supervisor, and Matt Ranbranstrom - ESGR team member and Employment Counsellor with the Idaho National Guard for attending today’s ceremony.
Finally, on behalf of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, thank you to everyone in our community that is serving, or has served in the United States Military.
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
By: Det. D. Stinebaugh