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C1 1/22/15 8:14 AM Page 1
Spring 2015
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF
MONTANA TROOPERS
VOL. 26, NO. 1
www.montanatrooper.com
ER
001-016 TOC,Pres,AG,Col 1/22/15 8:13 AM Page 5
Vol. 26, No. 1
Association of Montana Troopers
1150 Vallejo Road
Helena, MT 59602
On the Cover
Spring 2015
Table of Contents
9
11
13
17
18
22
31
35
President’s Message
By Trooper Brian Inman
From the Attorney General
Colonel’s Message
By Attorney General Tim Fox
By Colonel Tom Butler
Trooper Michael Haynes
Montana Highway Patrol 57th Recruit Academy
In Uniform
Patrolling the Autobahn
By Trooper Andrew Novak
Tractor-trailer Spills Liquid Asphalt in Gallatin Canyon
By Ty ler Allen
39
Teamwork, Timing Crucial to I-90 Rollover Response
By The Missoulian New s Staff
The Association of Montana Troopers maintains 1935 Ford and 1977 Ply mouth replica
patrol cars for display by members at various
functions across Montana. Photo by Clarke
Sutphin ([email protected]).
47
49
57
67
IBC
On the Road
Final Patrol
Directory
Advertiser Index
In Memory
Unless otherwise credited, editorial material appearing in this magazine is the property of the
Association of Montana Troopers, 1150 Vallejo Road, Helena, MT 59602. Copyright © 2015, Association
of Montana Troopers, all rights reserved. Printed in the U.S. Please contact the Association of
Montana Troopers for permission to reprint.
MONTANA TROOPER
5
ASSOCIATION OF
MONTANA TROOPERS
What is the AMT?
The AMT is an independent association
which is not affiliated with any other association or union. It is funded by and run by
troopers.
The Association’s Articles of Incorporation were completed in February of 1941.
Membership in the corporation may be
held by an active or retired trooper of the
Montana Highway Patrol.
The Association of Montana Troopers is
not a charitable organization, nor is it organized or operated for charitable purposes.
What connection does the AMT have
with the Montana Department of
Justice Highway Patrol Division?
The AMT is an independent association
representing active and retired troopers. Its
views, opinions, policies and publications in
no way reflect the viewpoint of the Department of Justice or the Montana Highway
Patrol.
What publication does the AMT
produce?
Montana Trooper magazine is the only
official publication and fund raiser for the
Association. Anyone not affiliated with this
magazine should not be considered representing the Association.
Montana Trooper magazine assists association members in the following areas:
• To create an awareness of a trooper’s job
and of efforts to maintain the high ideals
and professional standards of our trooper
members.
• To provide a fraternal organization for
Montana troopers.
• To interact with other highway patrol and
state police agencies and associations on a
national level.
• To gain recognition and support from Montana legislators.
Why does the AMT use
telemarketing?
For a variety of reasons, but primarily
because it is the most cost effective way of reaching merchants and businesses in our very large
state. Trooper Publications has an outstanding
record in the business and conducts its telemarketing operations on behalf of the AMT in
a friendly, professional manner.
We thank you for advertising in Montana Trooper. By advertising in our magazine,
your commercial message will reach judges,
elected state, county and city officials, legislators, county attorneys, sheriffs, police officers, business owners and operators, and all
troopers, active and retired, as well as their
families throughout Montana.
6
http://www.montanatrooper.com
Association of Montana Troopers
1150 VALLEJO ROAD, HELENA, MT 59602
OFFICERS
DIRECTORS
President
Brian Inman, Helena
District 1: Rocky Bailey, Corvallis; Lath Keith, Corvallis
Vice President
Lath Keith, Corvallis
District 3: Michael Zufelt, Helena
Secretary
Scott Ayers, Billings
District 5: Ed Hilbert, Glendive
Treasurer
Keith Edgell, Billings
District 7: Cal Janes, Townsend
Past President
Art Collins, Drummond
District 2: Scott Waddell, Great Falls
District 4: David Munson, Billings; Buck O’Neill, Billings
District 6: Steve Lavin, Kalispell
District 8: Kurt Miller, Conrad
Headquarters Representative: Dustin LeRette
Retirees Reps: Sam Harris, Conrad; Bob Clark, Ryegate;
Bert Obert, Helena; Brad Sangray, Cameron
MESSAGE TO OUR ADVERTISERS: As this publication is financed solely by the monies received
from advertisements, we express our appreciation to those businesses that purchase advertisements
in Montana Trooper. We strive to make this a high quality publication that will provide the best
possible advertising exposure for our advertisers. We encourage our members and all our readers
to patronize those businesses that make this publication possible.
YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE: The editor of the Montana Trooper welcomes your comments,
criticisms, or suggestions for the magazine. Your ideas for topics and/or types of articles which you
would like to see in future issues of the magazine will be appreciated and given every consideration. Please send your communications to: Scott Ayers, 1013 Babcock Blvd., Billings, MT 59105,
[email protected].
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER: The Montana Trooper is published by Trooper Publications West, Inc. for
the Association of Montana Troopers. Unless otherwise copyrighted, advertising material is the
property of the Publisher and may not be reproduced without written consent. Advertising sales:
1013 Babcock Blvd., Billings, MT 59105. Telephone (406) 322-4273. The publisher does not assume
responsibility for the contents of this magazine or for statements of fact or opinion made by any
contributor.
Change of Address
If you are moving, please let us know four weeks in advance of change of address. Attach magazine label
and print your new address below, and mail to: Scott Ayers, 1013 Babcock Blvd., Billings, MT 59105,
[email protected].
RANK NAME (please print)
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
ZIP
ATTACH LABEL HERE
MONTANA TROOPER
MO
ER
Montana Trooper
President’s Message
Brian Inman
President
AMT
MHP friends and family,
After many cold winter days, it is
always nice to warm up a bit and enjoy
the crisp clean spring air. Winter always
presents different challenges in our job
all across the state. I hope everyone
takes them in stride, learning as you
go. I get the opportunity to travel around
as your president, and I am happy to
report that I constantly receive compliments and stories of good things a
trooper has done for someone. It is
great to work with such capable and
professional people. Remember what
you do every day directly reflects on
all of us, so keep up the good work.
Like I have said before, we are the
lucky ones that work for the premier
law enforcement agency in the nation.
With the 64th Session of the Montana Legislature currently taking place,
life in Helena is very active. As I write
to you, the Association is finishing up
MONTANA TROOPER
with legislator ride-a-longs, planning
the law enforcement legislative reception, and making positive contacts with
all the right people to make a positive
impact for us and the citizens of Montana. I want to give a special thanks
to Mark Taylor and Jessie Luther at the
Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry, and Hoven
law firm for their dedication and efforts
to bring to life the needs of our Association. I am positive that we will build
the right relationships to continue to
be successful in our endeavors.
I was given the opportunity to travel the state with our current administration and address the entire active
membership at the district meetings.
I found it very helpful and rewarding
to provide a personal and accurate message to the members. I enjoyed meeting those troops I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet previously. I will strive
to continue to provide an informative
open line of communication, and I
encourage any member to contact me
on any issue or idea that might arise.
Thank you for allowing me to represent you and our Association.
Our work and communication as
members of the National Troopers
Coalition continues with the other
troopers across the nation. Last August,
Representative Mike Zufelt and I attended the fall meeting in The Dells, Wis-
consin. We worked on addressing
national fire arms control, collective
bargaining, and other national bills
affecting troopers. In January, board
member Cal Janes and I attended the
Western States meeting in San Diego,
California. We exchanged ideas with
many states with similar interests and
values. Many new ideas and ways of
doing business are always brought
home to improve our way of doing
things.
If you have not had a chance to
look through our on-line catalog of merchandise or you are a current dues paying Association member and have not
signed up for access to our web site,
please take the time and check it out
at: www.montanatrooper.com Also,
remember to put in for your time off
now and make a reservation in Lewistown for our annual AMT golf tournament on August 8th and 9th. Thank
you to all the businesses and people
that support the troopers and their
Association. Your efforts and donations don’t go unnoticed.
In closing, let us not forget where
we came from and where we need to
be going. There have been excellent
troopers retire this past year and there
are many new faces needing guidance.
Keep up the good work and stay safe!
❑
9
ER
Montana Trooper
Montana’s Troopers Embody
Selfless Service and Dedication
Montana
Attorney General
Tim Fox
In December, the Montana Department of Justice said farewell to a man
who has played a key role in training
our Highway Patrol troopers. After ten
years managing the Montana Law
Enforcement Academy, Kevin Olson
stepped down to assume a new role in
the Department of Corrections. Knowing great talent when he sees it, Department of Corrections Director Mike Battista brought Kevin onto his leadership
team. We at the Department of Justice
will miss Kevin and wish him all the
best, though we are delighted that the
law enforcement community will continue to benefit from his skills and dedication.
Kevin first attended the MLEA
Basic in 1979, and after serving in the
Chinook Police Department, our Division of Criminal Investigation, and the
Havre Police Department, he returned
to the academy in 2004 as its administrator. Over the last ten years, Kevin’s
work has impacted the training for
countless troopers and other Montana
law enforcement officers.
Training our troopers and managing the academy are no easy tasks, but
they are among the most important
responsibilities Montanans have given
this agency. Building upon the sound
character and steadfast work ethic discovered in the recruitment process, we
know that strong basic training at the
academy, augmented by field training
from seasoned officers, pays off in the
long run. We see that in the Highway
MONTANA TROOPER
Patrol every day.
Just a few months after taking office,
I had the privilege of presenting the
Montana Highway Patrol Award of
Valor to ten law enforcement officers,
including Troopers Joe Dejong, Sam
Goodemoot, Scott Waddell, and Don
Lee. On what they might have assumed
was going to be just another ordinary
day on patrol in 2012, these men pursued a known felon fleeing justice on
a highway between Great Falls and
Lewistown. The suspect, wanted in
Virginia for three separate pipe bombing incidents, threw pipe bombs out
his vehicle window toward the pursuing officers. Our troopers and a number of sheriff’s deputies continued pursuit until apprehending the suspect
without loss of life.
When the call of duty came, these
men did what we trained them to do,
and they did it with courage and professionalism.
The same is true of Trooper Adam
Gane, to whom I presented the Award
of Valor last November. When an armed
man was on the verge of shooting at a
number of law enforcement officers,
Trooper Gane stepped in and disabled
him before he could do so.
These troopers exemplify the selfless dedication I have found throughout the Montana Highway Patrol and
our law enforcement community in
general. Our home is a special place,
and even people who live elsewhere
in the country recognize that. My duties
as attorney general require that I travel outside of the state on occasion, and
when I do it’s not uncommon to hear
compliments about Montana. The landscape and the people who make it their
home leave an impression on those
who visit us. Even if they never once
interact with our troopers and law
enforcement officers, the work of pro-
tecting public safety is a big part of
what makes Montana so special.
The heroism of our troopers goes
beyond their day-to-day work in uniform. Protecting and helping the innocent means more than bringing lawbreakers to justice. It also means reaching out to Montana’s most precious
treasure: Our children. In its ongoing
work to help make dreams come true
for critically ill children, the Montana
Hope Project continues to impress and
inspire me. As a father and grandfather, I understand what it means when
a sick child is blessed with something
that brings him or her incomparable
joy. To all those who have contributed
time and resources to the Montana
Hope Project over the past 30 years,
thank you for fulfilling the wishes of
385 special children and their families.
As I told a recent class of academy graduates, the law enforcement
profession is still one to which young
people look as heroic. They know that
the oath, badge, and uniform embody
so much about what is good in our society. The sight of a law enforcement
officer may bring reassurance to a person in distress, comfort to a youth
whose innocence has been shattered,
and, as we know through the Montana
Hope Project, a smile to a sick child’s
face.
Montana’s law enforcement officers are our real-life heroes, and it is
an honor to be associated with them.
Tim Fox is the 24th Attorney General of Montana and oversees the Departm ent of Justice, w hich includes the
Montana Highw ay Patrol.
❑
11
ER
Montana Trooper
Colonel’s Message
Colonel
Tom Butler
Fellow members,
It was a pleasure to visit with some
of you during my recent tour around
the state for district meetings. Not only
is this a good opportunity to reconnect
with everyone and hear your thoughts,
but it’s also an important reminder of
all the talented and dedicated troops
we have working in this agency. I want
to thank you all, first and foremost, for
your dedication and sacrifice. You are
making a difference.
Since I last wrote, there have been
many exciting things happening at the
MHP. In August of 2014, we graduated 14 cadets from our academy and,
MONTANA TROOPER
as of this writing, we have 11 cadets
wrapping up their basic academy training and who will be set for graduation
in February of 2015. I’m excited for
them to join us.
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve
had the tremendous privilege of awarding many of our troops at district meetings. I’m glad to say that I was shaking quite a few hands as I passed out
safe driving awards, Colonel’s coins,
Meritorious Service Awards, and service stars, among others. Congratulations to all the recipients.
In the last couple of months, we
have started down the trail of developing our social media team. We are
on Facebook and have reached over
4,000 followers in our first two months!
We are excited to use this forum as one
more tool in our arsenal for connecting with the public, issuing safety messages, investigating incidents and pursuing recruitment opportunities. It is
also our hope that this will be an opportunity for everyone to be better informed
about the day-to-day happenings of our
agency and all the good work so many
of you do. Not only is it nice to see
what’s going on with co-workers or
former co-workers, but it’s also a great
way to show the public that we’re a
lot more than just ticket writers.
That being said, the success of our
social media program hinges on your
participation. We need you! Thank you
to all of those who have contributed
by sending in stories, pictures, and
posting ideas. We need a constant flow
of information from everyone in order
to keep our page interesting and relevant. If you haven’t contributed anything yet, now’s a great time to start!
Please e-mail your posts to Kristin Hoffmann at: [email protected]
Finally, I’d be remiss not to thank
you all again for your excellent work.
I love my job, in large part, because I
have a great team to work with every
day. I wish you much happiness and
prosperity for 2015. Let’s make it a
good one!
❑
13
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Montana Trooper
Trooper Michael Haynes
A Continued Legacy of Service
he Montana Highway Patrol plays
a vital role in facilitating tissue
and cornea donation by referring
potential donors who have died at the
scene of motor vehicle accidents. When
MHP Trooper Michael Haynes, the
father of two and an Iraq war veteran,
was tragically killed in a head-on motor
vehicle crash, his wife Tawny honored
her husband’s life and dedication to
service by courageously participating
in cornea and tissue donation.
Trooper Haynes donated 155 tissue grafts, offering hope and healing
to patients from young teenagers to
the elderly. His tissue grafts have been
transplanted at hospitals throughout
the United States, in such common
surgeries as hip replacements, ACL
and spinal repairs, and in other procedures to treat traumas or degenerative conditions to the knee, arm, wrist
and finger.
Among his many recipients, two
Montana patients benefited from Trooper Haynes’ donations.
Tissue transplantation often results
in outcomes that change lives. Donations help patients live without constant pain, heal faster, regain mobility, return to work after disabling accidents, and simply, participate fully in
daily activities. Trooper Haynes
unselfishly served his fellow citizens,
in the same spirit that motivates the
Montana Highway Patrol to facilitate
donation, offering comfort to grieving
families and the promise of healing to
hundreds of recipients every year.
“It comes as no surprise that a man
like Trooper Haynes has improved the
T
MONTANA TROOPER
Trooper Michael Hay nes.
Trooper Hay nes w ith his daughter, Tary n.
Trooper Michael Hay nes.
The Hay nes family at the pumpkin patch.
lives of so many people through his
gift of tissue donation,” says Kevin
O’Connor, CEO at LifeCenter Northwest, the organ procurement organization that serves Montana. “It’s fitting that a man who devoted his career
to helping others continues to do so
through the precious gift of life. We
are deeply thankful for our partnership with the MHP and the important
role they play in the tissue donation
process.”
For more information on tissue and
organ donation, or to register as a donor,
❑
go to www.lcnw.org.
17
Montana Trooper
Montana Highway Patrol
57th Recruit Academy
ca
vi
m
du
Graduation Friday, August 22, 2014
Jo
he pinning of the troopers’ badges
is a special part of their graduation ceremony. The Montana
Highway Patrol badge signifies many
things. The seven points of the badge
represent the seven core values: Character, Loyalty, Knowledge, Honor, Integrity, Courtesy, and Judgment.
The badges presented were polished
by current troopers to ensure the badges
given were un-tarnished.
It is now these troopers’ responsibility to ensure the badge and the organization remains polished and un-tarnished.
Each trooper selected a special person or people to pin on his or her badge.
Jo
er
ba
ev
sio
Jo
T
Seth h. AdAmS
Merle Adams had the
honor of pinning on
his son’s badge. Seth
reported his dad has
always supported his
goals and dreams.
His dad was also a role model for him
by setting a standard when it comes to
work ethic, generosity, and faith. He
wants to be the kind of man his dad is.
Bozeman is his hometown and prior
to joining the Patrol, Seth worked as a
seasonal police officer in Ocean City,
Maryland.
Seth chose the Patrol because at its
core, the Patrol represents to him a family that strives to establish duty, honor,
and respect through selfless service to
the state of Montana. He wants very
much to add what little he can to an
already elite organization.
There had been so many training
environments that Seth couldn’t single
out one as his favorite. What he remembers most are the cadets of 57th Recruit
Academy and how they worked togeth18
sy
tow
in
Jo
ed
op
en
First row (left to right): Trooper Philip D. Freed (MLEA Trainer) and Sgt. Conner Smith.
Second row (left to right): David R. Morris, S. Colleen Timmins, Kristy L. Kees, Alicia M. Williams,
and Joshua N. French. Third row (left to right): Michael E. Williams, Thomas D. Manz, Ry an M.
Janes, and Trever E. Chase. Fourth row: Lewis L. Johnson, Benjamin H. A. Kecskes, Seth H. Adams,
Joshua P. Nanna, and Derek J. Schuler. Fifth row (left to right): Major Jason D. Hildenstab and Lt.
Colonel Gregory K. Watson.
er, laughed together, and became a team.
From late night uniform prep, to study
sessions, to running the MPAT at 5:30
a.m., it was all fun because of who he
was with.
Seth thanked the following:
The Camp Commanders and Trooper Freed for all their time and effort in
the Academy. The class would not be
where they are if not for them and the
passion they have for the job.
Merle and Tannis Adams, his parents, for their continued support and
prayers.
Above all, God, for the opportunity to be a servant to the people of this
state.
Seth is MHP 290, and he was initially stationed in Wolf Point.
trever e. ChASe
Trever gave the honor of pinning on his
badge to his father, Richard Chase. Trever said his dad has been a strong role
model in his life and has helped him
build the strong
beliefs and values
Trever now stands
for. His dad is part
of the reason why he
chose a career in law
enforcement.
Helena is Trever’s hometown. He chose the Patrol
because he wanted to help protect the
state of Montana, and he knows it is an
honor to be part of the most respected
agency in the state.
Trever came to the Patrol from Maryland where he worked for a drilling
company, drilling high production water
wells for many communities and cities
throughout Maryland.
The week of firearms was his definite choice for the favorite training session. Trever reported that having a chance
to shoot guns for a whole week and getting paid while doing so was awesome.
Special thanks went to:
His family and fiancée, Shannon,
for supporting him over these past months.
MONTANA TROOPER
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ry
Al
on
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th
po
ab
th
Sh
va
a
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Sh
fr
jo
po
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MO
ms,
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Lt.
Montana Trooper
Sergeant Smith, Trooper Freed, the
camp commanders, and all the individuals who assisted with the Academy training.
Trever is MHP 201, and his initial
duty assignment was Hardin.
JoShuA N. FreNCh
Joshua chose Trooper Freed to pin on his
badge because of the
everlasting impression he has made on
Joshua.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is his hometown and prior to joining the Patrol, he served in the military.
Joshua chose the Patrol because he wanted to move to Montana and have the
opportunity to serve with the finest law
enforcement agency in the state.
His favorite Academy training was
the Police Vehicle Operations Course.
Joshua thanked the following for
their endless support:
Dawn, his mother.
Ashley, his sister.
Marisa, his girlfriend.
His Uncle Dean.
Hardin was his initial duty assignment, and he is MHP 360.
ryAN m. JANeS
n,
hs.
Allison Janes pinned
on her husband’s
badge. Ryan stated
that without her support and love, he probably would not be in
this position today.
She has always motivated him to pursue his goal to become
a trooper and has made significant sacrifices along the way to support his goal.
She is Ryan’s rock, role model, and best
friend, all rolled into one.
Florence is his hometown, and before
joining the Patrol, Ryan was a reserve
police officer and detention officer. He
chose the Patrol for a number of reasons:
He loves to drive and be on the
roads.
ER
MONTANA TROOPER
ol
he
an
ed
yng
er
es
fisce
etme.
He said the idea of working the
highways, helping the motorists, and
enforcing the laws has always appealed
to him.
He likes the idea of working for an
agency that is well established, takes
care of its employees, and offers the
opportunity to live in a variety of places
in Montana.
His family history with the Patrol
is something he is proud of and honored to continue. His grandfather (Gary
Janes), his uncle (Cal Janes), and his
father (Glenn Janes) preceded him in
wearing the Patrol’s uniform.
The Police Vehicle Operations Course
was his most memorable training, especially the first day when he was a passenger in a car driven by Cadet Timmins, and she proceeded to put them
sideways in a cloud of dust. The week
continued to be a lot of fun and a learning experience. Ryan stated, “It’s not
every day that you get to burn up someone else’s tires and gas while pushing
their car to the limit!” The icing on the
cake for that week was being given the
Glenn Janes Driving Award at the MLEA
Basic graduation.
Ryan sent his thanks to:
His mom, Laura, and his sister, Kara.
Allison, his wife, and their daughters, Ayla and Adelyn.
All his family and friends.
Without this group of people around
him, Ryan reported he would not be
the man he is today.
Ryan is MHP 165, and he will initially be stationed in Superior.
LewiS L. JohNSoN
Cooper Streit had the
privilege of pinning
on his uncle’s badge.
Lewis said that Cooper reminds him that
his actions and deeds
are always watched
and that he has the
ability to influence
the actions and deeds of others, whether
it is good or bad. Cooper is his constant
reminder to maintain his personal integrity and ethics.
Lewis was born and raised in Chester
and has served for nine years with the
Montana National Guard. He also
worked for Liberty County Sheriff’s
Office as a Dispatcher for 2 ½ years.
He feels the Patrol will allow him
to serve, protect, and provide assistance
to a greater number of people throughout Montana while allowing him to
work and serve throughout the state.
Lewis reported both the MLEA Basic
and the Patrol Academy provided incredible learning experiences. His most
favorite training experience was with
firearms.
Lewis sent special thanks to:
His brother-in-law, David Lesiak,
for taking care of his horse.
His dad, Loren Johnson, for taking
care of his dog.
The rest of his family for all their
support throughout his time at the Academy.
Broadus is his new home, and he
is MHP 308.
BeNJAmiN h. A. KeCSKeS
Because she has been
a great support and
inspiration to Ben, he
gave the honor of pinning on his badge to
Katherine Azurdia.
Helena is Ben’s
hometown. He chose
the Patrol because he had heard it was
a great agency, and he likes being able
to help people. Prior to joining the
Patrol, he was a student, medic, a production assistant, and a junior editor.
His most favorite Academy memory is chef salad sandwiches.
Ben sent his thanks to:
His family.
Kat Azurdia.
His classmates.
Ben is calling Glendive his new
home, and he is MHP
352.
KriSty L. KeeS
Deb Kees had the
honor of pinning on
her daughter’s badge.
Kristy reported her
more ➤
19
Montana Trooper
continued
mom has been one of her biggest supporters and always believed in her.
Missoula is Kristy’s hometown. She
reported she wanted to be a part of the
Patrol because of the mobility and different opportunities the Patrol offers.
She is thankful that the Patrol has welcomed her to the family.
Kristy’s most favorite academy training was ground fighting. She indicated it was such a great experience to be
able to learn something and then actually apply and see how effective it was
(as was shown by the numerous aches
and bruises all of them gained.)
She sent her thanks to:
All of her family and friends.
Trooper Freed, Sergeant Smith,
Training Officer Douglass, and all of
the numerous instructors and camp
commanders who helped the class
through the Academy.
All of her classmates who have
become a crazy new family to her. She
thanked all of you for your support and
unforgettable memories.
Kristy is MHP 348, and she will initially be stationed in Glendive.
thomAS d. mANz
Luci Ann Croonenberghs-Manz had the
honor of pinning on
her son’s badge. Her
grandfather, Lucien
(Looshien) Croonenberghs was the first
chairman of the Montana Highway Patrol
Board. Thomas reported that both his
mom and dad, John Manz, retired USMC
captain, have supported his efforts both
with the military and in becoming a
trooper.
Seattle is his hometown. He was
most recently stationed in Washington,
DC, as a lieutenant colonel in the US
Army and served as the division chief,
Iraq analysis division, and crisis planner for the Middle East/Africa Regional Center, Defense Intelligence Agency.
After the military, he wanted to live
out west and has always enjoyed Montana because not only does his family
reside here, but also for the history and
the beauty of the state. Thomas report20
ed he still feels the need to serve others, and he chose the Patrol because of
its emphasis on individual trooper responsibility and decision making without a
lot of supervision.
His favorite Academy training was
the police vehicle operations course.
He asked, “Where else are you put in a
vehicle and taught how to drive it to
the edge of your ability and the vehicle’s capability without worry for speed
or damage to the car?”
Thomas thanked his parents for
their support while he was in the military and through his transition to become
a trooper.
Kalispell is his initial station assignment, and he is MHP 172.
dAvid r. morriS
David chose Laura
Morris, his wife, to
pin on his badge
because she has supported and loved him
unconditionally
through all the
changes in their lives.
His hometown is Bozeman, and
before joining the Patrol, he worked at
Charter for five years installing cable.
He has also served in the Montana
National Guard for the past eight years.
Because he wanted to serve his community, he chose a career with the Patrol.
He feels the Patrol is the most respected law enforcement agency in the state,
and he wanted to be a part of it.
David’s most memorable Academy
training was combative training and
fighting off Joshua French.
He sent thanks to:
His wife and children (Landen and
Danica). They give him strength every
day to do the right thing and to work
hard.
His parents, Darrell and Shirl Morris and Cindy Patton, for always believing in and supporting him.
All the instructors and staff of MLEA
and the Highway Patrol for giving him
a good foundation to start his career.
David is MHP 188, and his initial
duty assignment was Billings.
JoShuA P. NANNA
Joshua chose his
fiancée, Shelby Scherping, to pin on his
badge because she
has always been there
for him and encouraged him to pursue his dreams.
He chose the Patrol because he wanted a great career in law enforcement
and at the same time to be able to stay
in Montana. Whitefish is his hometown, and before joining the Patrol, he
worked in carpentry on the east coast.
His favorite training from the academy experience was the police vehicle
operations course.
Joshua sent special thanks to:
His parents, Charlie and Cyndi
Nanna, and his entire family for supporting him throughout this process.
He will be calling Kalispell his new
home, and he is MHP 258.
Pa
sin
20
ed
of
th
he
an
pe
pr
ed
a
Ba
w
tr
Se
sh
ed
en
go
dereK J. SChuLer
Derek selected his dad,
David Schuler, to pin
on his badge. Derek
reported that without
his dad’s support and
advice, he wouldn’t
be where he is today.
Apple Valley, California, is Derek’s hometown. He was
a Transportation Officer in the US Army
before joining the Patrol.
He believes the Patrol is the most
professional law enforcement agency
in Montana, and that is why he chose
the Patrol for his career.
His most memorable Academy training was the week of firearms training
in the Advanced Academy.
Derek thanked his family, classmates, and instructors for their support
and help throughout the academy.
Culbertson is his initial station assignment, and Derek is MHP 171.
C
Ry
Kr
so
tia
AL
Ki
th
on
A
co
w
an
ag
he
bu
ba
Pa
ot
fo
S. CoLLeeN timmiNS
Colleen gave the honor of pinning on
her badge to Trooper Freed, because he
never gave up on her.
m
ed
th
ra
MONTANA TROOPER
MO
Montana Trooper
ntnt
ay
ehe
st.
dle
di
p-
w
She chose the
Patrol because ever
since September 11th,
2001, she has wanted to become the kind
of person who, when
things go badly, can
help keep people safe
and not one of the
people that needs to be saved.
Bozeman is her hometown, and
prior to joining the Patrol, she attended Montana State University and was
a dishwasher and pantry cook at the
Bay Bar and Grille.
Colleen’s most memorable moment
was during Gracie Ground Fighting
training and a surprise scrapping with
Sergeant Wickum on a “break” where
she almost got choked out. She reported it gave her so much confidence!
She sent special thanks to:
Her mom and dad for being brave
enough to let her go and fulfill her career
goals.
LEOB 153 Squad E, in particular
Cody Strandbakke, Jim Everett, and
Ryan Janes for never giving up on her.
Her fellow Academy classmates
Kristy Kees and Alicia Williams for being
so supportive and encouraging.
Colleen is MHP 356, and her initial duty station was Wolf Point.
ALiCiA m. wiLLiAmS
as
my
st
cy
se
nng
srt
n-
on
he
ER
Kimber Williams had
the honor of pinning
on his wife’s badge.
Alicia reported he
constantly wants
what is best for her
and is always encouraging her to follow
her dreams and complete her goals.
Alicia’s hometown is Great Falls,
but she now owns a home with her husband in Elliston. Prior to joining the
Patrol as a trooper, she served on the
other side of the radio as a dispatcher
for the Patrol for 3 ½ years.
She loved dispatching at the Communications Center, but knew she wanted to do something more. She knew
there wasn’t any other agency she would
rather work for because the Patrol has
MONTANA TROOPER
moNtANA highwAy PAtroLSweAriNg-iN CeremoNy
AuguSt 22, 2014
AtteNded the 57th reCruit ACAdemy
Final Standing – with initial Station Assignments
Badge
290
348
165
172
352
201
184
356
188
258
360
171
308
219
Trooper
Seth H. Adams
Kristy L. Kees
Ryan M. Janes
Thomas D. Manz
Benjamin H.A. Kecskes
Trever E. Chase
Alicia M. Williams
S. Colleen Timmins
David R. Morris
Joshua P. Nanna
Joshua N. French
Derek J. Schuler
Lewis L. Johnson
Michael E. Williams
been her family for many years, and
she knew she would never leave.
Taser training was her most memorable Academy moment. It was hard
to watch her classmates getting hurt,
but they all understood what each other
was going through.
Alicia also reported that seeing the
many sides of Trooper Freed and Sergeant
Smith during the traffic stops session
made it very entertaining.
She sent special thanks to:
Her classmates for being so positive and helpful with each other for as
long as they have been together.
Paul and Jeanette Austin, her parents, as well as friends Ashlin, Ellie, and
Logan for the phone calls and text messages asking about the training and for
making her laugh when she had a long
week.
Mary Jo for ensuring Kimber had
dinner when she was at the Academy.
Kimber for taking care of the dogs
and the houses and for not being too
upset when she brought home eight
more chickens and then promptly left
to return to the Academy. Most importantly, for his never ending encouragement and support, and for letting her
complete this goal.
Alicia is MHP 184, and she was initially stationed in Kalispell.
Initial Station Assignment
Wolf Point (Detachment 512)
Glendive (Detachment 511)
Superior (Detachment 114)
Kalispell (Detachment 624)
Glendive (Detachment 511)
Hardin (Detachment 422)
Wolf Point (Detachment 512)
Billings (Detachment 424)
Hardin (Detachment 422)
Culbertson (Detachment 514)
Broadus (Detachment 513)
Ryegate (Detachment 222)Subsequently resigned
miChAeL e. wiLLiAmS
Michael gave the privilege of pinning on
his badge to two very
special ladies; Wendy
H o e f e n s p e r g e r,
because she has
pinned him twice
before and is his
mother, and Linda
Antas, his wife, for her support throughout the training and for her listening
ear every weekend he returned home
during the Academy.
Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, is
Michael’s hometown. Prior to joining
the Patrol, he served 22 years as a military policeman in the US Air Force and
US Army.
Because he wanted to work for the
best law enforcement agency in the
state, he chose to be part of the Patrol.
His favorite Academy training sessions were Taser and crash investigation because they were stressful, yet
fulfilling.
He thanked Linda, his wife, for supporting him and helping him get through
the long Academy training.
Ryegate was his initial station assignment, although he subsequently resigned.
He was MHP 219.
❑
21
Montana Trooper
d
IN UNIFORM
LogAN ANd morgAN BArFuSS
Logan Barfuss, son of retired trooper Kirk Barfuss, is a senior this year at
the United States Air Force Academy
(class of 2015). It was recently
announced that Logan has been selected for pilot training, which will take
place upon graduation from the academy in May of 2015. His pilot training
duty assignment (station) will be
announced at a later date. Logan received
the MHP Association scholarship his
first year, but declined the scholarship
the past three years due to the Alberta Bair Scholarship he has been receiving and its requirements.
Morgan Barfuss, also the son of
retired trooper Kirk Barfuss, is attending college in Johnson City, Tennessee,
majoring in Bluegrass/Old Time/Country Music. Trooper Cal Janes awarded
Morgan the MHP scholarship during
the White Sulphur Springs High School
awards ceremony in the spring of 2014.
Morgan was also awarded the Public
Performance Scholarship from East
Tennessee State University, which
waives his out-of-state tuition costs.
On the left is Steve (Zack) Larson, and on the
right is Zach Bain. Both successfully completed
Communications Center FTO training in September of 2014.
Di
In
st
st
se
w
The Communications Center Operators participated in Armed Intruder training in October of
2014. Supervisor Jackie Tuszy nski is our certified instructor w ho instructed all the CSO’s.
Aw
In August of 2014, Megan Spawn and David Weidner successfully completed the 12 w eek training program at the MHP Communications Center.
CSoS
In April of 2014, Angie Vose was named District
1’s Com m unications Sy stem s Operator of the
Year. Captain Jim Kitchin is show n presenting
Angie w ith her aw ard.
22
In October of 2014, departing CSO Jessica Johnson, on the left, was presented with a plaque and
a cake by Supervisor Jackie Tuszy nski, on the
right. Jessica had been with the center since Septem ber 15, 2008. Jessica w as an exceptional
employ ee and more importantly , an exceptional person to know . The center enjoy ed her w illingness to express her opinion and ability to keep
the big picture in mind. Thank y ou Jessica for
y our dedication and professionalism, best w ishes for y ou and y our family as y ou head east.
Tr
wa
an
jec
In September of 2014, CSO Justus Jonson picked
up a lot on Ebay that included a “Welcom e,
Stranger” sticker from 1941, and a “Tw elve Simple Rules for Safe Driving” in Montana card printed in 1939. Many of these rules are still applicable today .
MONTANA TROOPER
Tr
MO
he
ed
p-
Montana Trooper
diStriCt 1 StAFF
Trooper Jeremiah Snider, 10 y ear Safe Driving
Aw ard.
District 1 staff on December 17, 2014
In late 2014, the headquarters command staff toured the state, attending district
staff meetings, during which Colonel Tom Butler presented numerous service
stars and various awards. The following are but a sampling of the many presentations made across the state, and we thank all of these recipients and more
who are not pictured for job well done!
AwArdS diStriCt 1
einn-
ed
e,
mntic-
ER
Trooper Pat Heaney, 5 year Safe Driving Award.
Trooper Pat Heaney , Hedstrom Aw ard.
Trooper Adam Gane receives The Montana Highway Patrol Award of Valor for acting with courage
and bravery to stop an extremely dangerous subject
Trooper Chris Hamilton, 15 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Trooper Darlene Lee,
Colonel's Coin.
Trooper Paul Pfau, 10 y ear service stars.
Trooper Andrew Novak, Hedstrom Aw ard.
MONTANA TROOPER
Trooper Ly nw ood Bateman, Colonel's Coin.
Trooper Pfau, 5 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
more ➤
23
Montana Trooper
continued
AwArdS diStriCt 3
Trooper Phil Smart, Colonel's Coin.
Tr
Sergeant Alex Betz, 15 y ear service stars.
Sergeant Dave Oliverson, Colonel's Coin.
Trooper Robert Strauch, 10 y ear Safe Driving
Aw ard.
Sergeant Alex Betz, Colonel's Coin.
Sergeant Jay Nelson, Colonel's Coin.
Tr
Trooper Rocky Bailey , 20 y ear Safe Driv ing
Aw ard.
Tr
ers
fo
fat
Sergeant Dave Oliverson, 5 y ear Safe Driving
Aw ard.
Sergeant Scott Bennett, 5 year Safe Driving Award.
Trooper Keith, 5 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Trooper Knutson, 5 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Trooper Steve Gaston, 5 year Safe Driving Award.
Sergeant Roman Zy law y , 20 y ear Safe Driving
Aw ard.
24
MONTANA TROOPER
MO
Montana Trooper
AwArdS diStriCt 4
Trooper Amos, service stars.
Trooper Andrew Leigland, Colonel's Coin.
Trooper Inman, Sergeant Oliverson, and Troopers Uhl, Zufelt, and Villa accept Colonel's Coins
for their team w ork inv estigating a significant
fatal crash.
rd.
Trooper Tim Wy ckoff, 15 y ear Safe Driv ing
Aw ard.
Association of Montana Troopers Retired Representative Bob Clarke presented Troopers David
Morris and Aaron Freivalds w ith custom made
antler pens from disabled Iraqi war veteran Kevin
Lake of Sidney . Mr. Lake makes a variety of
handmade gifts for the outdoorsman and gives
pens to fellow Iraq and Afghanistan w ar veterans. Troopers Morris and Freivalds both served
w ith the US Army in Iraq, and w e thank them
for their service, as w ell as the generosity of Mr.
Lake.
Trooper Tim Wy ckoff, Plaque of Commendation.
Troopers Mike Zufelt and Brandon Uhl, Meritorious Service Aw ards.
In April of 2014, Sergeant Craig Baum w as traveling from Great Falls to Billings when he encountered a subject having a severe diabetic reaction.
When Sgt. Baum discovered no ambulance w as
available in the rural area, he transported the
victim by patrol car until he w as able to meet
an ambulance. Medical personnel agreed that
had the victim not received immediate medical
treatment that he may have died, and the next
day the subject called to express his gratitude to
Sgt. Baum for sav ing his life. Consequently ,
Sergeant Baum was presented with the Hedstrom
Award by Colonel Butler for his life-saving efforts
that day .
.
ER
more ➤
MONTANA TROOPER
25
Montana Trooper
continued
AwArdS diStriCt 5
Tr
Sergeant Tony Beehler w as honored by Colonel
Butler for recognition of ten years without a preventable crash.
Trooper Jeremy Lundblad w as presented w ith a
coin in honor of his academy graduation.
From left to right, Troopers Inman, Gulick, Miller,
and Ream receive challenge Coins in honor of
their academy graduation.
Tr
Aw
Retired Trooper Rick Kessner, Hedstrom Award.
Trooper Aaron Freivalds was honored by Colonel
Butler for recognition of five years without a preventable crash.
Trooper Chan Barry w as honored by Colonel
Trooper Todd Hagenbuch was honored by Colonel
26
Trooper Kirk Robbins was presented with a coin
in honor of his academy graduation.
Troopers Shane Warehime, Bill Bullock, and Joe
Hensley, as well as Major JV Moody and Sergeant
Tony Beehler, w ere presented w ith Coins by
Colonel Tom Butler recognizing their efforts surrounding the protracted investigation and successful conviction of a subject who struck a pedestrian on Interstate 90 in Sw eetgrass County .
Sergeant Jeff Kent, 15 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Ca
Aw
Sergeant Martin, 25 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Ca
Trooper Derek Werner, Colonel’s Coin.
Se
MONTANA TROOPER
MO
Montana Trooper
Trooper Jason Dulin, 5 year Safe Driving Award.
Sergeant Jason Wickum, 10 y ear Safe Driving
Aw ard.
Trooper Kurt Miller, Colonel’s Coin.
er,
of
Trooper John Nickelson, Colonel’s Coin.
Trooper Dan Ohl, 10 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Trooper Lacie Wickum, Colonel’s Coin.
AwArdS diStriCt 8
rd.
rd.
d.
ER
Trooper TR Melton, 5 y ear Safe Driving Aw ard.
Trooper Dan Ohl, 10 y ear service stars.
Captain Duane Bow ers, 20 y ear Safe Driv ing
Aw ard.
Troopers Jesica and CJ Garza, Hedstrom Awards.
Trooper Kurt Miller, 5 y ear Safe Driving Award.
Captain Duane Bow ers, 20 y ear service stars.
Trooper Kurt Miller, 5 y ear service star.
Sergeant Bob Bender, 15 year Safe Driving Award.
more ➤
MONTANA TROOPER
27
Montana Trooper
continued
trooPer AdAm gANe
Congratulations to Trooper Adam Gane for receiving the Governor’s Aw ard of Excellence. Trooper Gane w as aw arded this honor on September
15, 2014, at the Great Northern Hotel in Helena. He w as recognized for his outstanding commitment to public and officer safety during his
heroic life-sav ing efforts inv olv ing an arm ed
standoff that resulted from a domestic disturbance call in Mineral County in June of 2013.
The attached image show s Trooper Gane pictured w ith his w ife and children, along w ith Lt.
Governor Angela McLean (far left) and Governor Steve Bullock (far right).
Then Cadet Kristy Kees of the 57th Recruit Academy is the top record holder for females participating in the MPAT at MLEA. In fact, the Patrol
has three fem ales on the record board at the
MLEA. The 57th Academy found tw o cadets on
the record board, w hich included Kristy Kees as
the top finisher w ith 3:27 and Colleen Timmins
at 3:51. Last y ear, then Cadet Ashlin O'Connell
also placed high on the record board at 3:38.
Amt 2015 ANNuAL memBerShiP
meetiNg ANd goLF tourNAmeNt
August 8 & 9, 2015
Lewistown, MT
Send no money, pay all at the door.
Make your hotel reservations now!
Calvert Hotel (406) 535-5411
Yogo Inn (406) 535-8721
B & B Motel (406) 535-5496
Super 8 (406) 538-2581
And others available.
In Nov em ber of 2014, the cadets of the 57th
Recruit Academy and their camp commanders
made a hike to the top of Mount Helena.
Th
As
Pi
An
are
Ti
Ba
Pictured from left to right are Yellowstone County Senior Deputy County Attorney Julie Mees
and Trooper Darvin Mees.
On Thursday, December 18, 2014,
the Yellowstone County DUI Task Force
held its annual Angel Tree ceremony in
the lobby of the county courthouse in
which angels are placed on a Christmas
tree in memory of the innocent victims
of fatal impaired driving crashes which
occurred in the past year. Happily, no
new angels were placed on the tree in
2014.
As a part of the ceremony, Trooper Darvin Mees was presented with the
Award of Merit, recognizing his continued efforts to combat impaired driving. Trooper Mees has received this
recognition numerous times and continues to be a significant contributor to
the effort to reduce impaired driving.
On
an
aC
in
m
Of
For questions, please contact Trooper
Jason Grover in Lewistown.
Trooper Joel Knutsen is pictured showing off his
new patrol car. Of note, Sergeant Jason Wickum commented it w as the first time he had ever
see Trooper Knutsen smile.
28
In December of 2014, Colonel Tom Butler and
Sergeant Conner Smith delivered items to The
Friendship Center in Helena for the first annual Pack the Patrol Car event. Donations w ere
collected from people around in the Helena area,
as well as from troopers, and packed into a patrol
car for collection. We plan on making this an
annual event and hope to go statewide with similar events.
On July 4, 2014, Trooper Shane Warehime display ed the Association of Montana Troopers’
1935 Ford replica patrol car during the Red Lodge
Parade and w on Best Motorized. His son, Stetson, also w on an aw ard as Best Dressed Little
Cow boy .
MONTANA TROOPER
Tr
al
Th
sta
for
inv
ing
er
tif
to
MO
033-056 Features bw 1/22/15 8:06 AM Page 35
Montana Trooper
Tractor-trailer Spills Liquid
Asphalt in Gallatin Canyon
By Ty ler Allen,
Explore Big Sky Senior Editor
Reprinted w ith permission.
An employee of West Yellowstone’s Jake’s Automotive prepares to do traffic control before the
company pulled a tank containing liquid asphalt
out of a ditch south of Big Sky . Photos by Wesley Overvold.
ust after 7 a.m. on December 11,
2014, a tractor-trailer towing more
than 9,000 gallons of liquid asphalt
lost its secondary trailer in a ditch on
the west side of Highway 191 in Gallatin Canyon. The “pup” trailer was
torn apart and began spilling its 3,000gallon payload.
The southbound truck rounded a
sweeping corner and began climbing a
gradual hill near mile marker 39 when
the driver, Sam Hulet, felt the smaller
J
MONTANA TROOPER
of two trailers pulling his rig off the
road.
“I felt the pup pulling to the right
[and] I thought it was going to pull me
in [the ditch] with it,” said Sam, a driver for Johnny B Transport based in
Idaho Falls, Idaho. He fought to keep
the rig on the pavement as the tongue
of the trailer sheared off from the primary trailer, sending the tank crashing into the ditch.
The outer shell of the tank – and
the insulation beneath it – was ripped
more ➤
35
Montana Trooper
continued
•
Excellence In Submissions-Blue
Team & Kimura: Trooper Barry
Mitchell
Sett FALL retreAt
reSigNAtioNS
The SETT troopers enjoyed their
annual fall retreat aboard the SS Banana
Split, cruising the waters of Cooney
Reservoir. Team Building Exercise 1
included huddling for warmth and security amid the tempest of a white squall
while inhaling a decaying crustacean
odor. Under the guidance of Captain
Dell Aman and his sometimes criticized
maritime skills, the team survived to
one day sail again!
Trooper Brenda Timm resigned on
September 19, 2014. She was sworn in
on February 8, 2008, and was stationed
in Big Timber.
Trooper Glenn Quinnell resigned
on September 18, 2014. He was sworn
in on May 13, 2005. He was stationed
in Broadus, Sidney, and finally Glendive. He was selected as a K-9 Handler
in April of 2014.
retiremeNtS
Trooper Mitchell.
•
The “I’m Not Doing That.” Straight
Shooter Award: Trooper John Scheer
Trooper Scheer.
•
•
•
The “State Farm/Geico” Award:
Trooper Jeremy Lee
Excellence In DUI Enforcement,
“Take One For The Road And Have
A Trooper For A Chaser!”: Trooper Woody Bateman
Excellence in Occupant Protection,
“The Black Belt Of The Seatbelts!
Hay Yah!”: Trooper Jeremy Lee
Trooper Lee.
30
PromotioNS
In December of 2014, Sergeant
Shawn Hazelton was named the Traffic Homicide Investigator Sergeant.
In September of 2014, Sergeant Jim
Sanderson and Trooper David Moon
assumed new positions on the K9 Team.
Sergeant Sanderson will take over for
Sergeant Kelly Mantooth as the new K9
sergeant and will be working with Tika.
Trooper Moon will join the K9 Team as
Sammy’s handler.
In October of 2014, the following
troopers were promoted to sergeant:
• Sergeant Phil Freed (MLEA/MHP
Liaison Sergeant)
• Sergeant Dave Oliverson (Butte,
Detachment 313)
• Sergeant Rich Salois (Libby, Detachment 621)
• Sergeant Scott Bennett (Kalispell,
Detachment 624)
In August of 2014, Sergeant Mark
Wilfore was promoted to the rank of
captain, and he assumed the District 7
Commander position in Bozeman.
Trooper Shellie Babinecz retired on
October 3, 2014. Shellie was sworn in
on October 19, 1992, and was initially
stationed on the Squad. In March of
1994, she transferred to Great Falls.
She was the Lead Crash Investigator for
District 2 from July of 2011 until June
of 2014.
Sergeant Kelly Mantooth retired on
October 1, 2014. Kelly was part of the
cadet program (where the Cadets worked
for a year for the Patrol before attending the Academy) where he worked in
dispatch and later in supply. He was
sworn in on June 30, 1986, and was stationed in Great Falls. He later transferred to Dillon and then Lewistown.
He was promoted to sergeant on October 2, 2009, and was the Lewistown
Detachment Commander. On April 6,
2013, he became the first K9 Sergeant
for the Patrol.
Sgt. Randal L. Owens retired on
December 5, 2014, after serving 22 ½
years with the Patrol. His initial station
assignment was Hardin followed by a
transfer to Polson in 1993. In 2004, he
transferred to Dillon until his promotion to detachment commander in Polson on February 7, 2008. He was elected Lake County Justice of the Peace.
I
yo
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a
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in
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am
tio
ta
hi
w
th
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w
Sergeant Ow ens is pictured receiving his retirement aw ards from Lieutenant Larry Irw in. ❑
on
ab
sh
bu
in
Pe
be
yo
iss
an
pr
be
ot
MONTANA TROOPER
MO
Patrolling the Autobahn
By Trooper Andrew Novak
was born with a predilection for
speed. As a boy, I heard about the
great Autobahn in Germany where
you could drive as fast as you wanted
and didn’t have to worry about getting
a ticket for it. What could be better,
right? To drive no place in particular at
a heart-pounding velocity would be the
ultimate realization of a teenager’s extravagant and unrestrained imagination.
Thankfully, this penchant has declined
in proportion to the increase in my age.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to meet and become acquainted
with Oberkommissar David Gebauer,
a German police officer who works for
the Autobahnpolizei (Highway Police)
in the Bundesland Hessen (state of
Hesse). We had occasion to meet through
a mutual friend while David was vacationing with his wife Jana here in Montana. He spoke fluent English, and we
hit it off right away. I learned that the
while the autobahns are federal roads,
they are policed by state police, much
like the primary highways here in America. Oberkommissar Gebauer is essentially Germany’s equivalent of a state
trooper. He expressed interest in riding along with me while on duty, which
was approved by my supervisor.
David joined me for a STEP shift
on August 5, 2014. We talked at length
about our profession. We found we
shared many of the same challenges;
bureaucratic buffoonery, malfunctioning equipment, and defense lawyers.
People that hate and judge you simply
because you wear a uniform. Someone
you stopped, treated politely, and didn’t
issue a citation to calls your supervisor
and says you were rude and inappropriate. Someone who caused a crash
berates you for citing them and not the
other person. Motorists who don’t seem
I
MONTANA TROOPER
David and Trooper Novak at the top of Lolo Pass.
to understand that snow on the highway reduces friction and you must slow
down to avoid crashing. We both agreed
people who choose to place themselves
under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs are job insurance for both of us!
We shared some of the same rewards
of the profession; seeing changes in
people’s lives and behavior because of
our efforts, hearing the thanks of a victim we worked tirelessly to help, knowing our presence or actions deterred a
crime, and a strong sense of brotherhood with others in the profession. We
both had been on the job about 8 years.
David spent three years in police school,
as all German police officers are required
to do.
David was quite surprised at how
many people we encounter here who
are driving without a license. In Ger-
many, a driver’s license is a big deal,
requiring lengthy training, the passage
of stringent examinations, and the cost
of (the equivalent of) several thousand
dollars. He said only about once a year,
if that, does he encounter an unlicensed
driver. I learned that while Germany
is seeing a rise in people driving under
the influence of drugs other than alcohol, it certainly doesn’t have the prevalence of DUI we have here in Montana.
I learned that guns are just about impossible for citizens to have in Germany;
mostly just the police have them. I
learned that drugs such as meth, cocaine,
and marijuana are illegal in Germany,
but marijuana is about as common there
as it is here. I asked David if German
citizens mostly obey the gun laws there,
and he said yes. I asked why people
would obey the gun laws and not the
An autobahn crash.
Another autobahn crash.
more ➤
31
Montana Trooper
continued
David's agency patch.
David's patrol car at the barracks.
drug laws. His best guess was societal
stigma; if something was largely unacceptable societally, most citizens would
honor that law.
David told me a little about the
operations of the Autobahnpolizei. They
run 2 troopers to a car in 12-hour day
or night shifts. They drive BMW 5-series
wagons with turbo-charged 258 horse
power diesel engines and a top speed
of 160 mph. He described the way they
make traffic stops; they are only allowed
to stop someone on the road shoulder
in cases of extreme emergency. Normally, they must pass the violator, slow
down in front of them, turn on a sign
in the back of the car that says “FOLLOW ME,” and drive to the nearest exit
or rest area. They must then stop in
front of the violator, get out, and walk
back to the violator’s car to make contact.
I learned that on the autobahns
there are, in fact, speed limits in certain places. David told me that only a
few troopers are trained in their speed
measuring equipment, which is installed
in a special patrol car that functions
essentially as a pace car. He said they
have no in-car video cameras or computers, which are common in America. They do their reports at their barracks as Word documents. I learned
that the autobahns have overhead lane
signs periodically that indicate if the
lane is open or closed ahead, and they
use these signs to close lanes for crashes or hazards. David told me that one
time he responded to a wrong-way driver and was able to get the elderly person to stop before causing a crash. He
said that in Germany, the culture is
somewhat different from America’s, in
that officers there are generally presumed to have done the right thing and
to be telling the truth about it. Even
defense lawyers, doing their best to
attack your case, generally will accept
an officer’s word.
You would think if society gave
homeless people a free place to stay,
there would be no homeless people,
right? Not so, according to David. He
told me that in Germany, the government will provide anyone who asks
with a small apartment to live in. Even
so, they still have a transient population there, as we have here in America. Apparently that is simply the lifestyle
some people choose.
Quite possibly what I found to be
the biggest difference between policing in Germany versus policing in America is that in Germany, officers do not
need particularized suspicion or probable cause to stop someone. Here in
America, obviously, citizens are protected constitutionally against unreasonable search and seizure, and officers must have, at minimum, particularized suspicion that the person being
stopped has committed, is committing,
or is about to commit an offense. In
Germany, David said, they may stop
anyone for any (or no) reason. That
being said, though, he said the German
police don’t care to waste their time
any more than do American police, so
they usually have a good reason to stop
and check a driver.
I had another opportunity to visit
with David before he went home. This
time it was over a game of billiards in
my basement man cave. He took in the
room displays quietly; an American
flag on the wall, a picture of my brother Ben wearing his Army uniform in
Afghanistan, a picture of my great uncle
Dick Levis in his Marine uniform during the Korean War, a picture of Tanya’s
32
Another angle of David's patrol car at the barracks.
Grandpa Bouma wearing the Army uniform of the Big Red One in Germany
at the close of World War II, a picture
of my grandpa Morrison Williams wearing his Army uniform during World
War II. He found it quite different from
his upbringing. He said anyone in Germany displaying such things would be
thought of as strange, and would probably be a “Reicher,” which is the term
given to a few remaining German citizens who still support the ideas and
plans of the Nazis. He said in Germany,
children are taught in school to be
ashamed of their national heritage. They
are taught that “they” started the war,
and they have largely little or no sense
of national pride. He was a child at the
time of the Berlin wall breach and didn’t
have many memories of the Germany
divided by Communism.
I got a sense of the strong work
ethic and attention to detail that is a
part of David’s culture when he showed
me pictures of his house. He described
how he built a home theater, showing
me pictures of the work in progress.
The finished product had surround
sound, walls shaped and covered to
maximize acoustics, reclining seating,
and a large projection screen. It was an
impressive feat of workmanship.
David and I found that we both go
to work every day motivated by the
same things; a love of people, concern
for the safety and quality of life of our
friends, family, and neighbors, and a
strong sense of purpose in doing God’s
work by making our little corner of the
world a better place. It was great to meet
a German brother in the fraternal order
of law enforcement, a fraternity which
binds across great geographical and
❑
political lines of separation.
MONTANA TROOPER
Montana Trooper
Tractor-trailer Spills Liquid
Asphalt in Gallatin Canyon
By Ty ler Allen,
Explore Big Sky Senior Editor
Reprinted w ith permission.
An employee of West Yellowstone’s Jake’s Automotive prepares to do traffic control before the
company pulled a tank containing liquid asphalt
out of a ditch south of Big Sky . Photos by Wesley Overvold.
ust after 7 a.m. on December 11,
2014, a tractor-trailer towing more
than 9,000 gallons of liquid asphalt
lost its secondary trailer in a ditch on
the west side of Highway 191 in Gallatin Canyon. The “pup” trailer was
torn apart and began spilling its 3,000gallon payload.
The southbound truck rounded a
sweeping corner and began climbing a
gradual hill near mile marker 39 when
the driver, Sam Hulet, felt the smaller
J
MONTANA TROOPER
of two trailers pulling his rig off the
road.
“I felt the pup pulling to the right
[and] I thought it was going to pull me
in [the ditch] with it,” said Sam, a driver for Johnny B Transport based in
Idaho Falls, Idaho. He fought to keep
the rig on the pavement as the tongue
of the trailer sheared off from the primary trailer, sending the tank crashing into the ditch.
The outer shell of the tank – and
the insulation beneath it – was ripped
more ➤
35
Montana Trooper
continued
off on impact, and a seam on the rear
of the inner tank failed, spilling its
molten contents across the highway
from the Gallatin River on the west
side of the road.
“[The driver] tried to ride it out
and bring it back up,” said Montana
Highway Patrol Trooper Brad Moore,
citing his initial investigation. “He didn’t
go into the other lane at all, which is
great. There was a lot of torque put on
[that truck].”
Four hours after the spill, the liquid asphalt – which comes from crude
oil – was still bubbling and steaming
MONTANA TROOPER
behind the makeshift dam that Sam
and his brother John had built to contain the spill. John was driving his own
double oil tanker ahead of Sam when
the accident occurred. He turned around
at 320 Ranch and came back to help
his brother slow the spill with dirt and
insulation that was ripped out of the
mangled tanker.
“They did a great job of digging
and making a dam to maintain the spill
as best they could,” Trooper Moore
said. “They checked to see if there were
any culverts to make sure it’s not going
to go in the river.”
John said spill remediation isn’t
part of their driver training, but they
worked fast to keep the asphalt from
reaching the Gallatin.
“The last thing we wanted is for
it to go in the river,” he said. “If there’s
a culvert under the snow it makes
cleanup worse than it already is.” A
small tongue of the asphalt had sliced
downhill but seemed to have stopped
about 300 feet above the nearest culvert.
The load was en route from Laurel, Montana, to Blackfoot, Idaho, a
trip the brothers say they take four
times a week. The liquid asphalt is
loaded into their rigs at 360 F, according to John, and is about 320 F when
it reaches Blackfoot.
The incident was reported to the
Montana Department of Environmental
Quality by the Department of Disaster and Emergency Services, which
estimated that all 3,000 gallons had
leaked from trailer, according to DEQ
Environmental Enforcement Specialist Shasta Steinweden. She said the
report indicated there would be no
impact to the river.
“Asphalt usually hardens pretty
quickly,” Steinweden said.
“If you’re going to have a spill, this
is a pretty good spot for it,” Trooper
Moore said. “And no one was hurt.
That’s big.”
❑
37
Montana Trooper
Teamwork, Timing Crucial to
I-90 Rollover Response
By The Missoulian New s Staff
Originally printed July 15, 2002.
Reprinted w ith permision.
t could have been another disaster
- twice over. That’s how then Montana Highway Patrol Trooper and
now Sergeant Roman Zylawy described
the what-can-happen-next events following a tanker truck wreck that shut
down Interstate 90 at St. Regis for 8
1/2 hours.
Zylawy, a veteran of the 1996 Alberton chlorine spill that closed the interstate for 17 days, ranks this tie-up among
the four worst of his then 13-year career.
I
MONTANA TROOPER
It began at 3 p.m. when a tanker
truck headed to Wisconsin with a full
load of wood phenolic resin rounded
a corner too fast and flipped on its side
onto the median 10 miles west of St.
Regis. The temperature outside was
106 degrees, the chemical in the tank
becomes flammable at 160 degrees,
and the accident had peeled away some
of the tanker’s insulation.
Zylawy called for the Missoula
County hazardous material team.
Meanwhile, Highway Patrol troopers from St. Regis and Superior began
diverting all interstate traffic onto
Camel’s Hump Road - a sturdy, winding remnant of the old Mullan Trail -
to detour the 11 miles from St. Regis
to Henderson. Mineral County Search
and Rescue volunteers and sheriff’s
deputies took up posts at the interstate
exits to help with traffic control.
“It was working pretty slick,” Zylawy
said.
By 7:30 p.m., Tom Zeigler and Jess
Mickelson from the hazmat team had
determined that the tanker wasn’t leaking, and - with a lot of muscle - the
80,000 pound behemoth could safely
be righted in the evening’s cooler temperatures.
Calls went out to area towing services. Sparr’s in Missoula, Schober’s
more ➤
39
Montana Trooper
continued
of St. Regis, and Ryan’s of Superior
responded with their biggest wreckers
- five in all. A complicated plan was
hatched: Three trucks took up position
on one side of the tanker, two on the
other. All were set to pull in tandem,
coordinated by radio between the drivers, who couldn’t see each other over
the huge rig.
Then Mother Nature pulled the
rug out.
A freakish storm, with lightning,
pouring rain, and winds blowing 60 to
70 mph, descended on the scene at
9:30 p.m. At least a dozen large, winddowned trees blew onto I-90 around
the workers. But worse, Zylawy said,
trees and debris rained down on the
carefully constructed detour on Camel’s
Hump Road, cutting off all east-west
traffic once again.
Traffic started backing up in St.
Regis, which “was busting at the seams”
with cars, semi-trucks, and motor homes
- all the way into Idaho, Zylawy said.
Every parking space in town was taken.
Parked semis lined the shoulder of the
interstate.
More calls were made. To the Idaho
State Police, which stopped traffic at
Wallace. To the Montana Department
of Transportation, which sent frontend loaders and snowplows to clear
trees off the interstate. To NorthWestern Energy, to restore power to St. Regis
that had been lost in the storm. Local
loggers listening to their scanners turned
up with chain saws to cut through the
debris on Camel’s Hump Road to free
up the detoured traffic.
“Coordination was great,” said
Zylawy. “It was neat how everyone
would come together to help.”
Finally, the wreckers moved back
in position - and pulled.
“The trucks were pulling up wheelies 4 feet off the ground” from the
weight of the load, Zylawy said.
Then a chain broke on one wrecker, then another on the other side. But,
miraculously, he said, the five working together managed to lift up the
tanker and set it down on its wheels
“without busting a tire.” It was 11 p.m.
At 11:18, Interstate 90 reopened.
more ➤
MONTANA TROOPER
41
Montana Trooper
continued
It was a wonder of teamwork and
a miracle of fate, Zylawy said. If the
interstate had been open when the
storm hit or if vehicles had been backed
up on the freeway, surely someone in
MONTANA TROOPER
the heavy Saturday night traffic would
have been struck by a falling tree.
Even the tanker driver emerged
from the wreck largely unscathed.
Daniel Clark, 30, was treated and
released from Mineral Community
Hospital with only minor lacerations,
Zylawy said. Clark, who was driving
from Portland, Ore., was cited for driving too fast on a curve.
❑
43
Montana Trooper
On the Road
Who knows what evil lurks in the
tall roadside grass? MHP 339 knows.
The hazards of working with the Total
Station in July on narrow roads with tall
grass and steep ditches. Submitted by
Trooper Charles Tuggle.
deploy the Mobile Impaired Driving
Assessment Center (MIDAC) for the
annual Iron Horse Rodeo in Red Lodge,
Carbon County.
✮✮✮
This photo was taken by Trooper
Luke Burson of his patrol car in the fall
of 2014 outside of the District 1 office
❑
in Missoula.
✮✮✮
✮✮✮
In July of 2014, Sergeants Craig
Baum and Tony Beehler prepared to
Trooper Joe Coughlin (MHP 234) of
Custer took this photograph of a vehicle vs. elk crash on September 30, 2014,
on Interstate 94 near milepost 50.
Thank you troopers for your dedication and sacrifice.
MONTANA TROOPER
47
Montana Trooper
Final Patrol
Daniel e. eshleman
Daniel E. Eshleman, 83, passed away
October 13, 2014, at his home in Great
Falls. His Memorial Service was held Monday, October 20, at 11:00 am at Holy Spirit (201 44th St South) with burial following at Highland Cemetery.
Daniel was born in Crow Agency on
August 16, 1931, to Emerson and Ella
Eshleman of Reno Creek, MT. Dan grew
up working on the family farm, living in a two bedroom
house with his three brothers and two sisters. He attended schools in Crow Agency and Hardin. He was involved
with Boy Scouts of America and earned Eagle Scout status.
As a young man, Dan worked for Camel Farming Corporation before joining the US Army in 1949. He served
during the Korean War as a supply specialist stations in
Okinawa, where he refueled B-29 bombers for missions
into Japan. Dan received the Army Occupation Medal
(Japan) and attained the rank of sergeant. Upon his discharge in 1953, he attended school in Wahpeton, North
Dakota, and received a degree in Automotive Mechanics
and Drafting. Dan worked as a mechanic in Hardin before
becoming a Hardin City police officer for two years.
In 1955, Dan was married to Verlette Graham in Worland, WY.
In 1961, he graduated from Montana Law Enforcement
Academy in Bozeman as a Montana Highway Patrolman.
MONTANA TROOPER
His first duty assignment was Baker, where he remained
until until 1967. While he was there, he renewed his association with Boy Scouts of America as a troop leader for
many years. He was later transferred to Wolf Point, where
he was promoted to sergeant and remained there until
1974. That summer, he transferred to Deer Lodge for six
weeks before being promoted to lieutenant and being transferred to Great Falls, where he stayed and became captain
until his retirement in 1990. During his time with the Patrol,
he was closely involved with officer training and was a
firearms and driving instructor.
Almost immediately upon his retirement, Dan set to
building a small home on his farm in Reno Creek where
he would spend most of his time from early spring to late
fall farming his property and working for his neighbors
and friends of Lamar Ranch, farming from sunup to sundown. Winters were spent in Great Falls.
Dan was highly respected by all who knew him for his
leadership, kindness, integrity, and common sense. He
would always make time for others and welcomed the
opportunity to visit with old friends or make new ones. He
was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Verlette Eshleman; daughters, Sheryl (Dennis) Hunking of Keizer, OR,
Tammy Eshleman of Bozeman, MT and Karen Southers of
Great Falls; grandchildren, Steven (Natalie) Black, Michael
Black, Jason (Anne) Black, Kayle (Josh) Villegas, all of Keizer, OR, and Jennifer (Joe) Knarr of Bozeman; great-grandmore ➤
49
Montana Trooper
continued
children, Austin and Faith Black, Gaige Black, Zoe Black,
Josh, Elijah and Jeremiah Villegas and Cooper Knarr; brothers, Robert (Mary) Eshleman, John (Joy) Eshleman, William
(Clara) Eshleman; sisters, Dorothy (Tom) Scally, Marie (Jack)
Bartenhagen; as well as many nephews and nieces. Dan
also found his special late-in-life pet, his cat, Gracie.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Montana Hope
Project, PO Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604 or to the Boy
Scouts of America, 820 17th Ave S, Great Falls MT 59405.
anDrew (anDy) l. sangray
Andrew (Andy) L. Sangray, 71, died
unexpectedly of natural causes on October 2, 2014, at Benefis Hospital, in
Great Falls, Montana.
Andy was born November 20, 1942,
to Tom and Rose Sangray, in Choteau,
Montana. Andy attended grade school
in Gilman and graduated from Augusta High School.
Andy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He
was very proud to serve his country, and he served a tour
in Viet Nam.
Andy began his career in law enforcement as a deputy
and later joined the Montana Highway Patrol, retiring after
22 years of service.
After retirement, he served as a security guard for the
federal court in Helena. Andy was a member of the Air
National Guard in Great Falls.
Andy married Jeanne Anderson, September 10, 1983,
in Helena, Montana, where they have made their home
since.
Because of Andy’s love for helping people, he ran in
numerous races for charitable organizations, including competing in the Governor’s Cup. He didn’t stop running, and
he reached another goal by running a marathon in all 50
states and the District of Columbia, including the Boston
Marathon twice. He joined the 50+ Marathon Club.
MONTANA TROOPER
Andy loved the outdoors, spending time hunting elk
and turkeys, fishing, and golfing. These times were made
very special to him because of the time spent with family
and friends. The stories were endless!
Andy was a member of the American Legion, St Mary’s
Catholic Church and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Happy to have shared in his life are his wife, Jeanne,
daughters Teri Sangray, Helena; Michelle Sangray,Idaho
Falls, Idaho; Andrea Sangray, Grangeville, Idaho. His grandchildren, Ryan Boynton, Alexandria Sangray, Austin and
Ashley Wolff, Brianna Hult, Wyatt Sangray, and great granddaughter Taylah Fortin; brothers Robert(Luretta) Sangray,
Ronald(Diane) Sangray, sisters-in-law Necia and Norma,
brothers-in-Law Howard(Joan)Anderson and James Anderson. Also many nieces and nephews, who were very special to Andy. He was preceded in death by his parents,
brothers Jack, Dick, Tommy, Mike, sisters Rosella and
Burneal and stepson Theron Votendahl.
A Funeral Mass was held at 12:10 p.m. on Monday,
October 6th, 2014, at Saint Mary Catholic Community,
1700 Missoula Ave., with a viewing starting at 10:30 a.m.
at the church. Burial with full military honors followed the
Mass at the Augusta Cemetery in Augusta, MT. Please visit
below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Andy.
Donations may be made to the Montana Hope Project
or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Please see more at: http://helenafuneralhome.com/obituaries/andrew-sangray-71-of-helena/#sthash.O2eX74QJ.dpuf
scott wyckman
Scott Wyckman, age 72, passed
away October 3, 2014, at his home
surrounded by family. He was
born May 4th, 1942, in Walla
Walla, Washington, to Ken and
Elma (Scott) Wyckman.
more ➤
51
ER
Montana Trooper
continued
From 1943 to 1946, the family lived in Spokane, Washington, until his father was discharged from the Navy. The
family then moved to Missoula, Montana, where Scott
attended Paxson Grade School, graduated from Missoula
County High School, and attended the University of Montana. He served in the Navy from 1961 until he was honorably discharged in 1963.
Scott had a long time interest for law enforcement, and
after applying to the Montana Highway Patrol, he was
accepted for recruit training in 1967. Upon graduation, he
was stationed in Bozeman. Shortly thereafter, Scott met
and married Shirley Hartley on July 20, 1968. They were
blessed with two daughters, Shauna and Sheri.
In 1990, he was elected as Gallatin County Justice of
the Peace, which resulted in his retirement from the Montana Highway Patrol. Scott then served on the bench for
18 years until his retirement in 2008.
His nephew, Shawn Smalley, chose to follow in Scott’s
footsteps with the Montana Highway Patrol. Recently, he
had the honor of passing along his badge #122 to his nephew
when he was promoted to sergeant, which brought him
great joy. He took great pleasure in uniting couples in holy
matrimony, one of those being his grandson, Robert Bran-
MONTANA TROOPER
son, which was a great blessing for him.
He was a man committed to his faith and his family,
and he stood for what he believed in. He gave God the
glory for all he accomplished and when he was in a fix, he
was praying. He always had the best interest of the people that he was dealing with in mind. He always strove for
honesty, integrity, and compassion towards others. During
his final days, while battling his sickness, he continued to
encourage and bless all those he came in contact with. He
is greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him!
He is survived by his loving wife; brother, Bill (Erin)
Wyckman; daughters, Shauna (Robb) Branson and Sheri
(Scott) Koch; grandchildren, Robert (Crystal) Branson, Alex
Branson, Claire Koch, Samuel Koch, Liberty Koch, and
Anna Koch along with one niece, two nephews, and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by parents, Kenneth and Elma (Scott) Wyckman, and his sister, Sue (Wyckman) Smalley.
A celebration of Scott’s life was held at 1 pm Saturday,
October 11th, 2014, at Grace Bible Church on South 19th.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his memory
to Gallatin County Love INC or Bozeman Prison Ministries.
❑
53
C3 Memorial 1/22/15 8:15 AM Page 1
In Memory of State Troopers
Who Gave Their Lives
In the Line of Duty
Robert G. Steele, 1946
David A. Graham, 2007
Shot in the line of duty near Billings
Traffic crash near Kalispell
James H. Anderson, 1954
Evan F. Schneider, 2008
Traffic stop on Bozeman Hill
Traffic crash near Columbia Falls
Richard E. Hedstrom, 1973
Michael W. Haynes, 2009
Traffic stop near Kalispell
Traffic crash near Kalispell
Michael M. Ren, 1978
David J. DeLaittre, 2010
Shot in the line of duty near
Eureka
Shot in the line of duty near
Three Forks

View Inside... - Association of Montana Troopers

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