Captain Nelson

Captain Brett Nelson is a 34-year Law Enforcement veteran who retired from the Santa Ana Police Department in 2020 before relocating with his family to North Idaho.  He was hired by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office in 2020 as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Jail and then Patrol before being appointed the Undersheriff where he served for over 4 ½ years until August of 2026. 

Captain Nelson completed undergraduate studies with an emphasis in Political Science at the U.S. Naval Academy before obtaining his bachelor’s degree in business and management from the University of Redlands.  He is a graduate of the FBI’s West Yellowstone Command College and ILEEDA Executive Leadership Institute.

Captain Nelson manages the Investigations Division.