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Law Enforcement

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Endorsed by the following Law Enforcement Officials:

• Tim Fox is endorsed by the Great Falls Police Protective Association
• County Sheriffs:
  Sheriff Darby Harrington, Wibaux
  Hugh Hopwood, Mineral County
  Jim Rosenberg, Wheatland County
  Kelly Pierson, Garfield County
  Wayne Dusterhoff, Glacier County
  Keith Van Setten, Teton County
  Wayne Robison, Treasure County
  Mike Meehan, Flathead County
  Lucky Larson, Lake County
  Chris Hoffman, Ravalli County
  Allen Lutes, Park County
  Dan Tronrud, Sweet Grass County
• County Attorneys:
  Rich Batterman, Carter and Fallon Counties
  Stephen Gannon , Choteau County
  Ed Amestoy, Phillips County
  Marty Lambert, Gallatin County
  Dennis Paxinos, Yellowstone County
  Steven Howard, Sheridan County
  Merle Raph, Toole County
  Pat Dringman, Sweet Grass County
  Lewis Smith, Powell County
• Other Law Enforcement Officials
  Larry Brooks, Great Falls Police Department
  Rob Moccasin, Great Falls Police Department
  Jon Runner, Great Falls Police Department
  Bill Brooks, Great Falls Police Department
  Jeff Newton, Great Falls Police Department
  Tom Lynch, Great Falls Police Department
  Doug Mahlum, Great Falls Police Department
  Steve O'Brien, Great Falls Police Department
  Denver Cobb, Great Falls Police Department
  Jere Carpenter, Great Falls Police Department
  Deputy Sheriff Peter Federspiel, Hill County Sheriff's office, member Tri-Agency Safe Trails Drug Task Force
  Detective Donny Gerhart, Great Falls Police Department, Pres. of Great Falls Police Protective Assoc.
  Detective Doug Mahlum, Great Falls Police Department
  Derek Mahlum, Havre Police Department
  Detective Pat Brinkman, Great Falls Police Department
  Detective Robert Lopez, Great Falls Police Department
  Trooper Martin Schrock, Montana Highway Patrol
  Sergeant Bruce Coccoli, Montana Highway Patrol
  Erick Fetterhoff, Montana Highway Patrol, Kalispell
  Steve Lavin, Montana Highway Patrol
  Rocky Bailey, Montana Highway Patrol
  Sam Harris, Montana Highway Patrol, Ret.
  Ed Hilbert, Montana Highway Patrol
  Cal Janes, Montana Highway Patrol
  Bob Clark, Montana Highway Patrol, Ret.
  Art Collins, Montana Highway Patrol
  Kelly Mantooth, Montana Highway Patrol
  Sheriff's Detective Tony Steffins
  Park County Undersheriff Jerry Mahlum, Sweet Grass County
  Ed Hilbert, Montana Highway Patrol
  Sam Kinser, Chaplin, Yellowstone County Sherriff's Office
  Police Chief Clayton Coker, Libby
  Deputy Chief Mark Lachapelle, Bozeman
  Deputy Chief Marty Kent, Bozeman
  Bill Slaughter, Former Director of the Montana Department of Corrections
  Lee Cornell, Regional Agent in Charge, Montana Narcotics Bureau, Region 2
  Jeff Faycosh, Regional Agent in Charge, Montana Narcotics Bureau, Region 5
  Lt. Mike Schieno, Billings
  Lt. Tim Neiter, Billings
  Lt. Jack Allen, member of the Great Falls Police Protective Assoc. & candidate for HD 20.

I’ve always been a little bit awed by the men and women in Montana law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.  They have my utmost respect, and I recognize them as experts in their important field—that’s why as Attorney General I’ll work closely with the law enforcement community and be an advocate in the legislature and elsewhere for what they need to keep us safe.  After all, it’s difficult to fully enjoy Montana’s great people, scenic grandeur, clean environment, recreation opportunities, and other blessings if our children, communities, civil rights, and property are not safe and secure. 

We need to make sure that law enforcement has all the tools  and training necessary to keep Montana the Last Best Place.  I am uniquely qualified with criminal law experience, management experience, and experience with law enforcement to make sure that Montana continues to be a safe place to live and work for generations to come.

State Crime Lab

In recent years we’ve seen problems crop up at the State Crime Lab.  A lack of management attention in the past has resulted in good, well-trained state employees leaving the Crime Lab for better paying jobs in other states or in the private sector.   A failure to prioritize the needs of law enforcement by adequately funding the Crime Lab has also created evidence analysis backlogs and limitations on what prosecutors can submit for analysis in important cases.  Some better funded city and county law enforcement agencies have unfortunately had to resort to sending evidence to out of state labs for analysis, thereby increasing the cost to the taxpayer. 

While recent legislative sessions have attempted to address these problems, many issues still linger.  It’s time to fix the problems with the Crime Lab, and in doing so give Montana law enforcement the best tools available in the industry to prosecute criminals and obtain convictions.  In my first year in office, I will review the Department of Justice budget to internally find the money for the Crime Lab, and if more is needed, I will bring the stakeholders together to make the case to the legislature that further funding should be provided.  I will do this without neglecting other important functions in the Department, and without causing your taxes to be raised.

Grant Writing Program

I will also strengthen the Department of Justice’s grant writing program with trained grant writing professionals who can find much-needed dollars from sources other than Montana taxpayers.  Currently many of the Department’s grant writing and grant administration responsibilities fall on high level managers with little grant writing experience or education, and who have little time to both apply for and administer grant awards.  A well-trained grant writer can pay for him or herself while infusing new money into such things as equipment for our Montana Highway Patrol and State Crime Lab, and temporary or permanent workers in the Division of Criminal Investigation or Legal Services Division.  I will assess the grant writing and administration capabilities of the Department within the first six months of taking office, and will either obtain training for existing personnel, or hire new personnel, or both, to make sure that the Department aggressively pursues grant money to meet the needs of the State, particularly when it comes to helping law enforcement.

Justice Assistance Grants

Like many states, Montana and Montana municipalities have relied on Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) from the U.S. Department of Justice for funding to fight drug trafficking and other crimes.  In recent years, funding for those grant programs has been diminished greatly by the U.S. Congress.  Montana’s physical size and other unique characteristics make this type of funding for fighting crime critical for Montana law enforcement.  I will fight to keep this type of funding available for Montana, and will, if necessary, testify in Congress and contact members of the Congress to ensure continued JAG funding to protect Montana citizens from criminals of all types.

Internet Fraud and Predators

The Internet is opening up new fronts for law enforcement, and we must be able to adapt as quickly as the criminals do to new technology.  I see a need to enhance law enforcement’s ability to “patrol” online to catch sex predators who solicit online or cyber-scammers involved in identity theft.  As Attorney General, I’ll allocate more money to prevention and enforcement for Internet crimes.  A computer forensics unit is necessary to the state to be able to protect our citizens.

• See my specific proposals on fighting Sex Predators. 
• See my specific proposals on Preventing Internet Fraud