Robert Brian Norris is the 13th Sheriff of Kootenai County, Idaho. He is known for his role in the February 2025 physical removal of Teresa Borrenpohl from a legislative town hall which became a cause célèbre.

Norris became sheriff in 2020, running as a Republican and having defeated independent candidate Mike Bauer in the 2020 Kootenai County Sheriff race, making him the first Kootenai County Sheriff with no prior connection to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office (KCSO). In 2024, he was re-elected after defeating challenger Dan Wilson. Before becoming Sheriff, he served as a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Career at the LASD

During Norris's career at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), his assignments included patrol, custody, narcotics, gangs, investigations, counter-terrorism, and emergency preparedness.

Following the September 11 attacks, Norris was selected to lead a team at the newly established Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC) to assist the United States during the war on terror. He held a security clearance for sensitive compartmented information and was responsible for managing personnel and resources from local, state, and federal agencies: FBI, CIA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. While established at JRIC, Norris was selected to train in Israel with Mossad and Shin Bet. Upon his return, he was promoted to lieutenant at the LASD by former Los Angeles Sheriff and convicted felon Lee Baca.

After his career at the LASD and his move to North Idaho, Norris volunteered with the Kootenai County Search and Rescue team from 2017 to 2019.

Kootenai County Sheriff Norris was appointed to the office on January 1, 2021, after his predecessor left early. He was appointed unanimously by the Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). His appointed term lasted ten days, from January 1 to January 10, 2021. He was officially sworn in as the elected Kootenai County Sheriff on January 11, 2021.

Reform Norris has annually sought an increase in the Sheriff's department budget. Since the start of his term in 2021, the Sheriff's department budget, as of 2024, has seen an 18.91% increase.

Since 2022, the Sheriff's department, in partnership with the non-profit Kootenai County Regional Air Support, has been authorized to operate a helicopter to support regional search and rescue missions, as well as other first responder operations.

Concerns and incidents

Traffic stop pepper spray incident

In Norris's first month as the Kootenai County Sheriff, a viral video showed him pulling out pepper spray while talking to a man who was recording a traffic stop. The video showed Brad Nelson, a citizen of Kootenai County, asking questions regarding a traffic stop. After Nelson got close enough so a Sheriff Lieutenant and Norris could hear his questions, Norris approached Nelson and asked him to step back. Nelson was apprehensive and told Norris, "Shut the fuck up and get back to work." Norris stepped closer, threatening to use his pepper spray, which ended the confrontation.

Norris later issued a press release in the Coeur d'Alene Press, stating, "The idea of local citizens using their video cameras with the intention of harassing our officers and interfering with their duties, only to later portray us online as if we were in the wrong, contributes to this national disgrace."

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he released multiple press statements saying that he would not enforce COVID-19 guidelines or mask mandates.

Unauthorized removal of books

In 2023, Norris claimed that books with explicit sexual content were available to teenagers in local libraries, specifically citing the books Deal With It! A Whole New Approach to Your Body, Brain, and Life as a Gurl and Identical. Norris argued that these books generally violated Idaho state law and should be placed in an area for adult library patrons only.

Norris's unauthorized removal of two books and his refusal to return them drew public attention to the county. The Community Library Network (CLN), which operates the Post Falls library, defended the books following Norris's actions, noting that they are classified as young adult non-fiction. CLN also clarified that minors require parental or legal guardian permission to sign up for a library card.

The CLN had and continues to have a process in place for people to request that the library reconsider the materials it makes available to youth.

Pennie Collinson defamation claim

In July 2024, photographer Pennie Collinson, who had worked for Norris's 2020 election opponent during his 2022 primary campaign for county clerk, filed a notice of tort claim against Norris personally, seeking over $500,000 in defamation damages. She alleged that during an April 2024 campaign event, Norris made derogatory sexual remarks about her and her photography business.

After the defendants, Norris and Kootenai County, failed to respond to the initial tort claim, Collinson was able to file a lawsuit in October 2024. The lawsuit accuses Norris of slander, defamation, placing her in a false light, and causing emotional distress. Addressing the lawsuit once more in a sheriff's office news release, Norris reaffirmed his stance, describing the claim as politically motivated and promising to contest what he termed "a hoax". He offered a $10,000 reward to members of the public who could assist with defending himself from the personal lawsuit, issuing his statement on the official sheriff's office letterhead and posting it on the office's Facebook page.

The Spokesman-Review reported the response of Fred Scheffelmaier, owner of the Country Barn Bed and Breakfast in Cataldo, who hosted the forum where Norris allegedly made his statements. Scheffelmaier expressed shock at what Norris said, saying, "Why would you call someone something like that in a public meeting?"

His use of official sheriff's office resources to address personal allegations raised concerns regarding the legality of his actions, prompting inquiries to state agencies for clarification on potential campaign finance violations.

ICE detainee surge In January 2025, under Norris's leadership, the Kootenai County Jail saw a sharp rise in out-of-state detainees held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, particularly from states where laws limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Norris attributed this spike to the Trump administration’s executive orders on immigration enforcement and the passage of the Laken Riley Act.

Kootenai County receives $112 per day per detainee under a federal contract. These financial incentives raised concerns that the increase in ICE detainees was artificially manufactured.

Norris defended his office’s cooperation with federal authorities, stating that the focus remains on "criminal aliens" and that he views the Sheriff's Office working with ICE and Border Patrol as a necessity for keeping the community safe. He has offered the department's resources to assist with deportations.

Removal of woman from meeting

In February 2025, during a legislative town hall at Coeur d’Alene High School organized by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC), Teresa Borrenpohl, a local activist and Democratic politician, was physically restrained and removed from the meeting after causing a disruption by heckling over the potential repeal of Idaho's Medicaid expansion.

According to The Spokesman-Review, KCRCC chair Brent Regan claimed that Borrenpohl and others had shouted "six or seven times" as lawmakers spoke, and had received "three" verbal warnings to stop interrupting before the town hall continued after each interruption.

Norris first attempted to remove Borrenpohl from her seat himself, grabbing her arms. After his attempts failed, he appears to order three men from the private security firm LEAR Asset Management to physically remove Borrenpohl from the meeting. Norris denied giving the men any specific direction and, along with the KCRCC, claimed “no knowledge” of the security arrangements. However, Regan stated later that “nothing was done without him (Norris) being aware.” In a separate comment to The New York Times, Regan claimed that the security team "volunteered their services" as the KCRCC sought additional security due to a bomb threat made against state Republican lawmaker Jordan Redman, who was in attendance.

As two of the three men dragged Borrenpohl out, she repeatedly screamed, “Who are these men?” “This man is assaulting me!” and “Where is your badge?” Meanwhile, Norris was heard yelling at bystanders to stop recording and telling Borrenpohl, “You, out, now.”

Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White, who has legal jurisdiction over the location, has since condemned the incident, citing the First Amendment. White refused to arrest Borrenpohl or trespass her from the town hall, contrary to Norris's demands. Based on White's recommendations, Coeur d’Alene prosecutors dropped the misdemeanor battery citation against Borrenpohl for allegedly biting the hand of one of the men who forcibly removed her, and the city of Coeur d’Alene has revoked the security company’s business license.

Days after the incident, Undersheriff Brad Nelson released the first official press statement from the Sheriff's Office regarding the incident on social media platforms. The statement claimed that there were "NO Kootenai County Deputy Sheriff's or other personnel present at or involved in this incident." Similarly, the Coeur d’Alene School District, which rented the facility to the KCRCC, stated in an online media release that the facility use agreement signed by the KCRCC required them to hold a public use forum. The district also disavowed Norris and Regan’s characterization of the event as a “private event,” which the KCRCC used to justify removing Borrenpohl. The Coeur d’Alene School District has condemned the incident.

In April 2025, Coeur d'Alene city prosecutors filed misdemeanor criminal charges against five men affiliated with the private security firm, based on a police recommendation. The recommended charges include battery against Borrenpohl and three other individuals, as well as false imprisonment of Borrenpohl and Gregory Johnson, and "violations of security agent duties and uniform requirements". While city police identified Norris as an involved party, they stated that the legality of his actions remains "to be determined". According to public records, one of the latter claimed in an appeal that “LEAR Asset Management was under a direct lawful order by Sheriff Norris they could not lawfully refuse.” Despite this, Norris continues to deny any knowledge of the security arrangements and did not file a report concerning the incident.

As of April 2025, Norris is represented by attorney Kinzo Mihara, while Borrenpohl is represented by attorney Wendy Olson, who filed a notice of tort claim seeking $5 million in damages with the Kootenai County Clerk, alleging that Norris and those acting with him violated Borrenpohl’s constitutional rights. In August 2025, Johnson also filed a tort claim notice against Kootenai County and Norris, seeking $2.5 million in damages for alleged violations related to his involvement in the incident.

In November 2025, Raul Labrador, through the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, concluded the state's review and declined to file any criminal charges, including battery, against Norris, stating that no charges were warranted based on the "evidence".

In early December 2025, misdemeanor charges were dismissed against four of the five security guards involved, including the battery and false imprisonment counts.

The civil tort claims by Borrenpohl and Johnson remain ongoing, with no reported resolutions.

Revocation of special deputy status for local police chiefs