"512 is out of service, and may god rest your soul"

On June 17, 1998 Idaho State Trooper Linda Huff was inside the state police district office in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. This is normally our place of safety and security in our line of work. Trooper Huff was completing some paperwork in the office and at about 2311 hrs., she exited the building to resume her normal patrol duties. Unknown to her, there was an armed man hiding in the back parking lot where her patrol car was. Trooper Huff's patrol car was less than 30 feet from the rear door of the district office. Somehow, the gunman was able to lure Trooper Huff from her vehicle. I can only guess he approached her asking her for help. Trooper Huff was always anxious to help anyone. As she stepped from the protection of her patrol car and walked toward the suspect, a gun battle ensued at a distance of about 10 feet. A total of 26 shots were fired, 9 of the shots were fired by Trooper Huff who emptied her .45 caliber service weapon. Trooper Huff was struck 10 times, yet while being knocked down to the ground and seriously injured, still fought with the suspect. During the gun battle, Trooper Huff's ammunition holder on her duty belt was struck rendering her remaining two backup ammunition magazines useless. She fired all 9 rounds her service weapon could hold, striking the suspect twice. The suspect was shot in the shoulder and once in the neck. While seriously wounded and on the ground, Trooper Huff still called for backup on her portable radio "I need help, I'm in the back lot" she called. A police dispatcher inside the building heard her call for help and walked out to see what was going on. The dispatcher saw the suspect kneeling down over Trooper Huff with his gun to her head. The suspect saw the dispatcher and began to get up and point the gun at her. She ran back into the building and called for "officer down, shots fired" assistance. One last shot was fired by the suspect. That last shot was to her head and killed Linda Huff. The suspect was arrested without further incident minutes later only 50 yards from the scene. The suspect, 34 year old Scott Yager was struck in the shoulder and in the neck by Trooper Huff. Yager would have surely died from these injuries had he not been treated quickly by paramedics. Yager had a relatively clean criminal record and had never been contacted by Trooper Huff. Yager was simply out to kill a police officer. A police officer sworn to protect you and I, and make this society we live in a better place. Trooper Linda Huff gave the ultimate sacrafice in the line of duty, her life. Linda Huff is survived by her husband and fellow Idaho State Trooper Chad Huff and their three children. Linda, we miss you and you will never be forgotten!

Anyone interested in helping the Huff family with donations, please send them to the following address: Future Visions & Visions Music Shoppe's Members Thank You.

Linda Huff Memorial Fund
c/o Western Bank
P.O. Box 160
Ontario, OR 97914

Phone: (514) 889-9691

For more information, questions, or comments, please send me email.