Kellogg Council Honors Regional Law Enforcement for Rapid Response to Wallace Shooting

The Kellogg City Council passed Resolution 2026-01 last week to formally recognize the Kellogg Police Department and multiple regional agencies for their rapid, coordinated response after a gunman opened fire in downtown Wallace on Dec. 26, injuring three people, including Kellogg Police Officer Dameon Groves. The council credited officers and deputies with securing the scene and preventing further harm, and the resolution affirms the city’s full support for the injured and for ongoing recovery efforts.

City officials and law enforcement described a fast-moving confrontation that began when the shooter opened fire in Wallace’s downtown core. Kellogg Police Chief Paul Twidt said KPD was the first agency to respond. Officer Matthew Weingart exchanged gunfire with the shooter outside the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office before the suspect retreated inside the sheriff’s building. Officer Dameon Groves assisted in locating the shooter inside the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and narrowly avoided being shot; Groves was struck by a piece of glass when a lobby window was shot out. Sheriff William Eddy hailed Groves as a hero during the press conference following the incident. Mayor Rod Plank and the Kellogg City Council voiced continued support for the officers and their recovery.

Agencies cited in the resolution include the Kellogg Police Department, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police, and other surrounding jurisdictions and emergency-service teams. Resolution 2026-01 commends the bravery and professionalism of first responders, credits their coordinated efforts with protecting the public, and acknowledges investigative personnel who are working to establish the full facts of the shooting.

For residents of Kootenai County and neighboring communities, the council’s action is both acknowledgment and reassurance. The resolution publicly recognizes interagency coordination that crossed county lines and highlights the practical value of mutual aid arrangements during a critical incident in a small, tightly connected region. The council also used the moment to reaffirm its ongoing commitment to community safety and to the well-being of officers who put themselves at risk.

Looking ahead, the immediate priorities remain the recovery of the injured and the completion of the investigation by law enforcement. The council’s endorsement creates a formal record of local support for first responders and may shape follow-up discussions on training, resource-sharing, and community safety initiatives at future meetings. Residents should expect updates from the city and law enforcement as investigators release more details and as the community continues to recover.