Media Advisory
August 25, 2026
Media Contact: Dan Estes
BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador will chair the 2026 Idaho Medal of Honor Ceremony recognizing nine first responders for extraordinary acts of courage and heroism that saved lives while risking their own.
WHO: Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Idaho Medal of Honor Commission members, and award recipients Corporal Francisco Torres (K-9 handler, Pocatello Police Department), Sergeant Justin Buck (Pocatello Police Department), Senior Firefighter Travis Adams (Idaho Falls Fire Department), Senior Firefighter Jeremy F. Newman (Idaho Falls Fire Department), Fire Captain Ernst Fritz Wiedenhoff (Northern Lakes Fire Protection District), Engineer David Tysdal (Coeur d’Alene Fire Department), Deputy Harvey Ballman (Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office), Deputy Arek Brock (Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office), and Deputy Joshua Orr (Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office)
WHAT: Official presentation of Idaho’s highest honor to first responders who demonstrated exceptional valor above and beyond the call of duty
WHEN: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM MT
WHERE: Lincoln Auditorium, Idaho State Capitol, Boise.
The ceremony will include honor guard presentation, individual Medal of Honor presentations with citations detailing each recipient’s heroic actions, and remarks from Attorney General Labrador recognizing their service.
This event is open to the public. Media planning to attend are asked to RSVP to [email protected] by Monday, August 31, 2026, to reserve a seat. Please include the number of staff attending from your station and whether you will be bringing a camera for photo or video, or covering print only, so we can reserve the appropriate space.
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About Raúl Labrador
Raúl Labrador is the 33rd Attorney General of Idaho. The Office of the Attorney General provides legal representation for the State of Idaho. This representation is furnished to state agencies, offices and boards in the furtherance of the state's legal interests. The office is part of state government’s executive branch and its duties are laid out in the Idaho Constitution.
