Great Falls Police Endorse Tim Fox

Article published Apr 24, 2008, By Great Falls Tribune Staff

The Great Falls Police Protective Association is endorsing Republican Tim Fox for Montana attorney general, the group announced Wednesday. The association, which includes most of the Great Falls Police officers, met with all five candidates for the attorney general position before endorsing Fox, a Helena attorney.

"It was clear that Tim Fox is the best qualified candidate for the job," Great Falls Police detective Donny Gerhart, president of the association, said in a statement. "Tim has broad experience as an attorney, is right on the issues that matter to Montanans, and will work hard as attorney general to protect Montana families."

Fox is vying against one other Republican and three Democrats for the office currently held by Mike McGrath. McGrath cannot run for the position again because of term limits.

"It's an honor to get the endorsement, especially from a law enforcement organization," Fox told the Tribune on Wednesday. Fox said one of his priorities as attorney general would be to add photographs of sexual offenders to "Con Web," a Web site maintained by the Department of Justice. By law, photos of every registered sex offender in Montana should be available on the site, Fox said. However, many are not. Fox said he would work to fix that. He said he would also fight for more funding for the state crime lab so the facility could better help police analyze evidence.

Another priority of Fox's would be to fight for civil liberties, he said. That would include vigorously resisting attempts by the federal government to implement the Real ID program, he said.