A letter from Montana’s Law Enforcement leaders

MONTANA SHERIFF AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

As a nation, state and society we are living in unprecedented times.  As peace officer leaders in the State of Montana, we feel it is our obligation to speak about the unnecessary injuries and deaths, suffered by any persons, at the hands of law enforcement officers who fail or refuse to live by our peace officer code of ethics.  We collectively acknowledge that incidents of excessive use of force, violence and misconduct are unacceptable and contradictory to our professional training, ethics, and personal morals.   

In every community of Montana, peace officers work to protect public safety. We are your police officers, sheriff deputies, troopers, corrections officers, game wardens, motor carrier officers, and more. Every day, we put our lives on the line so you can live, work, travel, and recreate safely. In striving to fulfill our oaths and follow our code of ethics, Montana’s peace officers have earned the respect and trust of the citizens we serve.

Montana’s peace officers receive top-notch training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and in the field. Among other things, we are taught how to de-escalate tense situations, how to uphold citizens’ rights while protecting public safety, how to respect people of all backgrounds and circumstances in the course of our work, and how to use force only as a last resort. We measure the effectiveness of that training by the record of our officers. Our record is strong.

Montanans expect the highest standards of conduct from their peace officers. You rightly expect appropriate disciplinary and legal action is taken when an officer is found to have violated the oath, the code of ethics, or the laws governing our state and nation. We are committed to this.

As leaders of law enforcement agencies, we strive to be transparent, accessible, and accountable. We continually evaluate policies and practices to ensure they meet the needs of our communities. To that end, we welcome and encourage input from our fellow citizens and our elected officials. Positive, civil, and constructive engagement is the path to genuine community-oriented law enforcement that protects public safety and the rights of all citizens.

We are members of the communities we serve. We want to thank the citizens who have shown support for Montana peace officers.  We are lucky to live and work in a state that overwhelmingly supports us.  As Montanans, let’s continue working together and recommit ourselves to the shared values that make our home the last best place.

Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association

Montana Association of Chiefs of Police

Montana Police Protective Association

Association of Montana Troopers

Sheriff Tony Harbaugh, Custer County 

Sheriff Don Bell, Lake County

Sheriff Leo Dutton, Lewis and Clark County

Sheriff Clay Lammers, Garfield County

Sheriff Jamie Ross, Hill County

Sheriff Keith Van Setten, Teton County

Sheriff Brian Gootkin, Gallatin County 

Sheriff Rick Vaughn, Fergus County

Sheriff TJ McDermott, Missoula County

Sheriff Charles “Chip” Kem, Stillwater County

Sheriff Keifer Lewis, Prairie County

Sheriff Brian Heino, Flathead County

Sheriff Heidi Visocan, Sheridan County

Sheriff Trent Harbaugh, Fallon County

Sheriff Gavin Roselles, Powell County 

Sheriff Ed Lester, Butte-Silver Bow 

Sheriff Darren Short, Lincoln County

Sheriff Wynn Meehan, Broadwater County

Sheriff Tom Rummel, Sanders County

Sheriff Scott Dunkerson, Granite County

Sheriff Jon Lopp, Meagher County

Sheriff Ross Canen, Dawson County

Sheriff Vern Burdick, Chouteau County

Sheriff Mike Linder, Yellowstone County

Sheriff Jason Frederick, Roosevelt County 

Sheriff Brad Bichler, Park County

Sheriff Tom Boyer, Valley County

Chief Tim Barkell, Anaconda Deer Lodge

Sheriff Paul Craft, Beaverhead County

Sheriff Donna Whitt, Toole County

Sheriff Steve Holton, Ravalli County

Sheriff Josh McQuillan, Carbon County

Sheriff Jesse Slaughter, Cascade County

Sheriff Everett Misner, Wheatland County

Sheriff Jerry Lytle, Phillips County

Sheriff Craig Doolittle, Jefferson County

Chief Steve Crawford, Bozeman

Chief Wade Nash, Polson

Chief Justin Jenness, Lewistown

Chief Adam Jacques, Fort Benton

Chief Dale Johnson, Livingston

Chief Don Guiberson, Dillon

Chief Scott Kessel, Libby

Chief Dave Bowen, Great Falls

Chief Doug Colombik, Miles City

Chief Brien Gault, Glasgow

Chief Gabe Matosich, Havre

Chief Jaeson White, Missoula

Chief EJ Clark, Belgrade

Chief Rich St. John, Billings

Chief Doug Overman, Kalispell 

Chief Ryan Oster, Hamilton 

Chief Steve Hagen, Helena

Chief Bill Dove, Gallatin Airport Authority

Attorney General Tim Fox, Montana

Colonel Tom Butler, Montana Highway Patrol

Bryan Lockerby, Administrator, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation

Glen Stinar, Administrator, Montana Law Enforcement Academy

Perry Johnson, Executive Director, Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council

Duane Williams, Administrator, Montana Motor Carrier Services

Chief Dave Loewen, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Dan Smith, Executive Director Montana Police Protective Association

Nanette Gilbertson, Executive Director Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association