Protectors' Peak
Board of Directors
Richard Abbey
Richard Abbey lives in Kootenai County, Idaho with his wife of over 20 years and has three children. He has two daughters at home and his oldest son is currently serving in the Army. He is active in ministry and is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for the military and first responders. Richard served his country in the 101st Airborne Air Assault Division and is a Desert Storm combat veteran. He is a small business owner and entrepreneur working as a land developer.
David Lindahl
David Lindahl lived overseas in Asia for five years teaching English at a university. He also worked for three years with InterVarsity as a campus staff worker with international students. David holds a BA in Youth Ministries from Bethel University, a BS in Elementary Education, and a MAED from Lee University. He has a son, Dawson, and a daughter, Bergen. Currently, David lives in Fargo, North Dakota with his lovely wife, Erica.
John Stanger
John was a police officer in Illinois and Minnesota for over 24 years. During his time in law enforcement, John was a patrol officer, field training officer, SWAT team member, evidence manager and event coordinator. John retired as Lieutenant in August of 2018.
John earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1988 and later earned his master’s degree in Public Safety Administration and Education from the University of St. Thomas in 2003.
John is now owner of a financial practice and is part of Valor Group – Thrivent. Their mission is to improve the financial wellness and retirement strategies of those who serve and their families.
John lives in Lakeville, Minnesota, with his lovely wife, Leah. They have two children, Nick, who lives in Minneapolis and Mira who is still in school. John’s family brings him great joy and were an oasis of stability during his law enforcement career. Christ is at the center of all and John is committed to helping others find rest and solace in Him.
Don Manning
Don Manning served 24 years as a deputy with Spokane County. His assignments included patrol, firearms instructor and armorer, motors, detectives and back to patrol retiring as a sergeant in 2014. Don concurrently served in the Washington National Guard for 22 yrs.
Don and his wife Gaylene married in 1988 and have 3 adult children and one grandchild. They currently serve as Village Missionaries in La Pine, Oregon, and Don is a volunteer chaplain for the local law enforcement and
fire service agencies. He also coaches his local JROTC air rifle team.
Don enjoys adventure motorcycle touring, shooting, camping with his wife, and occasionaly fishing.
Nate Harder
Nate Harder is the director of Protectors' Peak. He served in law enforcement for over twenty-six years holding positions as a police officer, field training officer, police trainer, detective, SWAT team member and leader, SWAT commander, Street Crimes officer, and Chief of Police. He is a former Marine and has been married to his wonderful wife, Becky, for twenty-six years. Nate has been blessed with four beautiful daughters who bring him joy. Nate's vision and passion is serving our servants and connecting them to Jesus Christ through solace, rest, and the beauty of creation.
Becky Harder
Becky Harder is the co-founder and associate director of Protectors' Peak. Her previous job experience involved working with children and families as an elementary and preschool teacher, children's pastor, coordinator of a parent mentor program, and executive director of a youth mentoring program. Becky considers her most cherished and loved job as being a stay-at-home mom and taking care of her four daughters. She has been married to her husband, Nate, for twenty-six wonderful years. She understands the challenges and joys of being a law enforcement family and all that it entails. Her passion is to see God move in the lives of those who are hurting and are ready to receive His healing, grace, and love.
Brett Westbrook
Brett Westbrook is a Minnesota native who loves to say that he once lived in Texas. Brett graduated from Bethel University where he met Nate Harder and Becky (Mott) Harder and they formed a friendship beginning in 1992.
Armed with a degree in teaching Spanish and coaching high school sports, Brett’s calling to police work rang loud only 3 years into his teaching career. Brett joined the Arlington, TX police department where he served as a Spanish translator for the midnight shifts, became a defensive tactics instructor and then moved into the gang unit working with Spanish-speaking gangs. He and Nate Harder continued their friendship in Arlington as their young families grew up together.
The Westbrook family moved back to Minnesota in 2004 after Brett’s wife, Angie, became ill with Lyme disease. Brett entered the MN State Patrol Trooper Candidate School and successfully graduated and continues to serve as a state trooper. He has assumed the roles of: mentor, defensive tactics instructor, Spanish instructor, canine handler, criminal interdiction instructor and is currently assigned to the State Capitol security detail. Brett has also coached high school hockey for much of his professional career and continues to apply his coaching skills to a high school girls’ hockey team.
Matt McClay
Matt McClay was born and raised in the northern suburbs of St. Paul MN. He attended Bethel University, graduating with a degree in Accounting and Finance. He went on to continue his education back at Bethel Seminary. Matt completed his Master of Divinity concentrating in Pastoral Care and Marriage and Family Therapy. After all of that he ended up in a career in software sales. Matt currently resides in Mounds View, Minnesota with his wife and three kids.
Pat Knight
Pat Knight is a veteran of the Marine Corps from 1990-1994. He returned home and went to work for the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office as a Marine Deputy. He went to work for the Post Falls Police Department
July of 1994 as a patrol officer. Pat was the department's first motor officer in 1996. He worked his way through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, and Police Chief. He retired as Police Chief in August of 2021.
Pat was involved with SWAT for 20 years and attended the FBINAA in 2014. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce in 2020 and is on the board for Make-A-Wish Idaho. He currently works full time as the program manager of security operations for Cocentric.
Pat has been married to his beautiful wife, Shannon, for 28 years and has two wonderful daughters, Emily and Berkely. He also has two granddaughters, Cali and Addi.
