Bill Cosby. Lance Armstrong. Donald Trump. What do these men all have in common? That’s right. They are role models for our children. But I would like to add one more man to that list: Deputy Doug Goodman of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department. I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Yes, Deputy Doug is a Good Man.

Take the time last year that Deputy Doug helped a shivering child zip his coat and walked him to school after his older brother left him the dust. Good Man.

Or the time that Deputy Doug took a pie in the face to help a little boy with cancer. Good Man.

Or that other time that he used the Kootenai County Sheriff’s database to look up a ladies phone # after he grew suspicious that her husband had attended church by himself. Above and beyond Good Man.

But nothing compares to the actions that Deputy Doug took on September 4, 2019 to show us that he’s truly Deputy Good Man. On that day, Deputy Doug exemplified his deep unselfish love for the mentally ill of Kootenai County. No doubt his training at the Coeur D Alene School District as a School Resource Officer and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department gave him the courage he needed to euthanize Fares J. Al-Samno, a mentally ill man in need of the help of a Good Man.

Ben Wolfinger had this to say about Goodman’s bravery that day:

Much like with a whimpering puppy that has been hit by a car, we know that sometimes the best way to show our love to the mentally ill of Kootenai County is to put them down in a humane way. Like with a hurt puppy, we always try to treat them first, but if they nip at you while you’re trying to help, it’s time to Ol’ Yeller them. Much like Travis, Deputy Doug had the courage to put Fares down, and for that I salute him.

Bravery indeed. Not many people have the heart and soul to put a man down when it’s the right thing to do, but Deputy Doug did. Good Man.

But like he’s been there everyday in the past, Deputy Doug will be there tomorrow to help the young children of Hayden Meadows Elementary. Maybe tomorrow he’ll help your shivering young son make the morning bell. Or maybe he’ll raise money for your young daughter if she’s diagnosed with cancer. Or maybe he’ll be there to help your mentally ill child in his time of need, like he was there for Mrs. Al-Samno’s son. Maybe he’s not a hero but he’s definitely a Good Man.