Remembering Montana Officers Killed in the Line of Duty for Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 15th was proclaimed National Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962 by President Kennedy, a day to remember those killed in the line of duty.
In Montana, 129 men and women in uniform have died on the job, over 80 of those deaths occurred as a result of gunfire. We honor those officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice and thank them for their service.
Deputy Sheriff Mason Palmer Bethea Moore is the latest officer to die in the line of duty. He was killed on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. He was shot and killed while involved in a pursuit of a vehicle near mile marker 109 on Highway 287, south of I-90.
Anaconda Police Department
- Lieutenant Timothy J. Sullivan of the Anaconda Police Department died in the line of duty on Sunday, February 10, 1985. He was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call.
- Assistant Chief of Police Edwin E. Stuart of the Anaconda Police Department died in the line of duty on Tuesday, June 6, 1939. He was shot and killed while responding to reports of a shooting at a local bar.
- Policeman Patrick Dougherty of the Anaconda Police Department died in the line of duty on Friday, June 3, 1904. He was killed after being assaulted while on duty.
Beaverhead County Sheriff's Department
- Sheriff Raymond Lamar Davis of the Beaverhead County Sheriff's Department died in the line of duty on Saturday, August 9, 1980. He suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in a search and rescue operation looking for a missing hiker.
- Sheriff Cyrus King Wyman of the Beaverhead County Sheriff's Department died in the line of duty on Wednesday, April 21, 1920. He was shot and killed by a horse thief in Monida.
Billings Police Department
- Detective Alexander Finlayson Mavity of the Billings Police Department died in the line of duty on Tuesday, February 14, 1989. He was shot and killed while attempting to recapture a prisoner who was attempting to escape custody.
- Patrolman Arthur D. Pettit of the Billings Police Departmen died in the line of duty onSaturday, December 21, 1935. He was accidentally shot by another officer's gun.
- Policeman Enos Nelson of the Billings Police Department died in the line of duty on Sunday, December 16, 1917. He was shot and killed after responding to a report of a man with a gun in a bar.
- Sergeant Robert T. Hannah of the Billings Police Department died in the line of duty on Saturday, July 2, 1904. He was shot and killed when he responded to a robbery at a local saloon.
Broadwater County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Sheriff Mason Palmer Bethea Moore of the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. He was shot and killed while involved in a pursuit of a vehicle near mile marker 109 on Highway 287, south of I-90.
Dillon Police Department
- Patrolman Stephen Carl Shaffer of the Dillon Police Department was killed in the line of duty Saturday, February 14, 1981. He was struck and killed by a drunken driver during a traffic stop.
Gallatin County Sheriff's Department
- Deputy Sheriff Frank C. Curtice of the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department was killed in the line of duty on Friday, October 10, 1919. He was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man for assaulting his employer. The suspect was shot and killed by members of a posse the next day.
- Deputy Sheriff Pomeroy Vrelland of the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department was killed in the line of duty on Friday, October 10, 1919. He was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man for assaulting his employer. The suspect was shot and killed by members of a posse the next day.
- Special Deputy Sheriff Jack Allen of the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department was killed in the line of duty on Sunday, January 24, 1897. He was shot and mortally wounded while assisting the sheriff serve arrest warrants on two youths for larceny.
- Sheriff Silas Ralston of the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department was killed in the line of duty on Thursday, September 5, 1878. He was shot and killed as he attempted to stop a quarrel between two men at a saloon in Bozeman.
Livingston Police Department
- Chief of Police Peter Holt of the Livingston Police Department was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 21, 1929. He was shot and killed in the police station by a man who became enraged when they told him to forget about 50 cents he said his boss owed him.
- Police Officer Martin Zollman of the Livingston Police Department was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 21, 1929. He was shot and killed in the police station by a man who became enraged when they told him to forget about 50 cents he said his boss owed him.
- Police Officer Charles Wilson of the Livingston Police Department was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 20, 1924. He was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary in progress at a local house.
Montana Highway Patrol
- Trooper David James DeLaittre was killed in the line of duty onWednesday, December 1, 2010. He was shot and killed while conducting a vehicle stop on Lane Road, near the Three Forks Airport, in Gallatin County .
- Trooper Michael Warren Haynes was killed in the line of duty on Friday, March 27, 2009. He succumbed to injuries sustained five days earlier when a car being operated by an intoxicated driver struck his patrol car head-on.
- Trooper Evan Frederick Schneider was killed in the line of duty Tuesday, August 26, 2008. He was killed in an automobile accident when his vehicle collided with a large truck head-on.
- Trooper David A. Graham was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. He was killed in an automobile accident when an oncoming pickup truck crossed into his lane and struck his patrol car head-on.
- Patrolman Michael M. Ren was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, April 8, 1978. He was shot and killed after being called to assist a deputy from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in serving two felony warrants on a recently released mental patient.
- Patrolman Richard E. Hedstrom was killed in the line of duty on Thursday, July 19, 1973. He was struck and killed by a drunk driver during a traffic stop near Kalispell, Montana.
Park County Sheriff's Office
- Undersheriff Roy Hodges died in the line of duty onSunday, April 18, 1954. He suffered a fatal heart attack following a high speed pursuit and shootout.
- Sheriff George T. Young was killed in the line of duty on Friday, November 9, 1900. He was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a train robbery and murder suspect.
West Yellowstone Police Department
- Police Officer Patrick Roy Kramer was killed in the line of duty on Sunday, October 22, 2006. He was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 20 while responding to the scene of a traffic accident.
Peace Officers Memorial Day is part of National Police Officers week. We remember those lives lost and salute all men and women in uniform who have dedicated their lives to protect and serve.
To see a complete list of all officers killed in the line of duty in Montana, click here.