Idaho State Police, Idaho
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 17, 1998
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 2 months
Badge Number: 512
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 17, 1998
Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life w/out parole
Trooper Linda Huff was shot and killed in the parking lot behind the Idaho State Police District 1 station in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at approximately 11:00 pm.
A male subject had ridden his bike to the facility and ambushed Trooper Huff, shooting her 17 times. Two of the rounds were stopped by her vest and one severed her spinal cord, paralyzing her from the waist down. During the shootout Trooper Huff was able to return fire and struck the man once in the shoulder and once in the throat. The man was arrested moments later while walking down the street. Trooper Huff was pronounced dead at the scene.
On February 5th, 1999, the man was found guilty of first degree premeditated murder of a police officer and commission of a felony with a deadly weapon. On August 16th, 1999, he was sentenced to life without parole. The judge presiding over the case refused to sentence the suspect to death by claiming the state had failed to show the crime was committed with aggravating circumstances.
Trooper Huff had served with the Idaho State Police for 14 months. She is survived by her husband, who is also an Idaho State Trooper, and three children.
On May 13th, 2005, Trooper Huff was posthumously awarded the first ever Idaho Law Enforcement and Firefighting Medal of Honor.