KCFR unveils Frank J. Harwood Award, honors Peterson and Wagner

At its annual awards banquet in Post Falls on March 5, 2026, Kootenai County Fire & Rescue introduced the Frank J. Harwood Award of Excellence and presented the inaugural honor posthumously to Battalion Chief Frank J. Harwood, with his wife Meghan Harwood accepting the plaque and speaking about perseverance and the word fortitude. Fire Chief Pete Holley said the new award “prioritizes mentorship, physical fitness and raising standards” inside the department and called giving the first award to Frank the logical choice: “It's the Frank J. Harwood Award of Excellence and it only makes sense to give it posthumously in the first year to Frank.”

Holley described a physical tribute mounted on the plaque that ties the award to Harwood’s personal interests: “Frank was known as a little bit of a knife collector, specifically Buck Knives and the award itself has a custom one-of-a-kind Buck Knife attached to the plaque,” Holley said. The presentation followed what Holley summarized as “a difficult year of departmental obstacles and personal hardships,” placing the new award in the context of KCFR’s recovery after “all that KCFR went through in 2025.”

KCFR also presented its Dedication and Devotion Award to Maurice Wagner, an honor described by the department as its highest recognition. Chief Holley praised Wagner’s versatility: “When the department needs someone versatile enough for just about any job, they can count on him.” Coeur d’Alene Press coverage noted Wagner’s specific duties include serving as a complementary SWAT medic with the Kootenai County SWAT medic program, functioning as a drone pilot and taking part in the rescue task force.

Retired firefighter Kenny Peterson received the Commissioners Award for his work “helping with mental health after the Canfield Mountain incident last summer,” a citation cited during the banquet. Holley said of Peterson, “He immediately was a constant presence in our building and for our people for weeks afterwards,” and added, “Probably the best hug you can get is a Kenny Peterson hug, and he was dealing those out left and right when they were needed most.” KREM reported that “instead of ‘riding off into the sunset,’ Holley said Peterson returned to his old duties on the peer support team.” Peterson also accepted the IAFF Local 2856 “Kenny Peterson Brotherhood and Sisterhood” award during the same set of presentations.

Photographs from the banquet credited to Elizabeth Knight Photography show elected officials and peers joining honorees onstage. A Commissioners Award photo lists Board President Andy Boyle; Commissioner Ryan Higgins; Susan Peterson; Kenny Peterson; Commissioner Jon Hoffman; Commissioner J.B. Whipple; and Commissioner Tom LaPonsey. A Dedication and Devotion Award photo lists Mitchell Copstead; Brooks Brown; Maurice Wagner; Kevin Lawler; Pete Holley; Justin Capaul; and Rusty Kramer. An IAFF Brotherhood and Sisterhood photo lists Justin Zabel; Brooks Brown; Kenny Peterson; Craig Taylor; Jeff Populus; Kyan Zimmerman; Conner Peery; and Bryon Smith.

KCFR framed the banquet as a night to recognize “exceptional service, leadership and community partnership” while memorializing Harwood and spotlighting members who bolstered departmental resilience and peer support after critical incidents.