Holdahl to receive POST executive certificate

MERIDIAN –– Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) will present Chief Tami Holdahl the POST Executive Certificate— the highest certificate awarded to peace officers in this state.

Chief Holdahl started volunteering as a Reserve Officer with Benewah County Sheriff’s Office in 1998. In August of 2000, she was hired as a full-time Patrol Deputy. At 40 years old, she attended and graduated from Session #130 of the POST Basic Police Academy. Chief Holdahl continued with the Sheriff’s Office for two years and left as a Sergeant. She then went to work for the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department as a Sergeant for twelve years. She then went across state lines to work for the Kalispel Tribe in Airway Heights, Washington, she was there four years before being offered the Chief of Police position for the City of Pinehurst in 2018.

Chief Holdahl has been issued POST Reserve, Peace Officer Certifications through Advanced, Supervisor, Management, and 14 different Instructor Certifications, during her Idaho law enforcement career. She has instructed over 600.0 POST approved training hours with local agencies and at North Idaho College in their Law Enforcement Program.

Chief Holdahl also served her community on the St. Maries City Council for four years before winning the election of Mayor. During her eight years as an elected official, she was proud of what they accomplished in making St. Maries a thriving, forward thinking city, and a better place to live and visit.

Holdahl was born in Moscow, but has lived her entire life in St. Maries, Idaho. She is grateful to have been raised in a small community where the development of respect, compassion, and a good work ethic were an integral part of her life. She was fortunate to remain home to raise her three children until her youngest started school. While her children were growing up, she volunteered with the St. Maries Ambulance as an Advanced EMT for 16 years. Chief Holdahl also coached a wide array of youth sports that her children participated in, such as 8th grade girls’ basketball and freshman boys’ basketball.

Chief Holdahl enjoys spending time with her nine grandchildren and attending their various activities. Watching her grandchildren participate in sports is much less stressful, but just as enjoyable as it was when her children played. Chief Holdahl relishes in her outdoor activities from hiking, biking, kayaking, and lazy river floats. Her true passion is enjoying live music and concerts with friends and family. Upon her upcoming retirement, she looks forward to continuing traveling this great nation, visiting the many sites and friends she has made along the way.

The Executive Certificate will be presented to Chief Holdahl May 31, 2022, during a celebration of her retirement.