A
BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE MONTANA AND SHERIFFS AND
PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
This Association was formed
in Miles City in 1929.
Purpose: The object of the
Association is to bring together all persons qualified for membership,
for a more mutual acquaintance for interchange of thoughts, the apprehension
of criminals and for such other purposes as the majority may from time
to time designate.
It would be much too lengthy
to describe in detail every meeting, convention, or accomplishment or
the names of those who worked so hard in the Association over the years.
In lieu of that, we shall bring into focus what we consider the major
milestones and accomplishments of the Association over the past twenty
or so years.
1. When the Association was
first formed all officers and board members were sheriffs, and it remained
that way until June 26, 1970 when, at the annual convention in Kalispell,
the constitution was amended to allow deputies to hold office. Deputies
Les Gee of Gallatin County, Jim Burnes of Cascade County, Buzz Davis
of Beaverhead County, Chuck Rhodes of Flathead County and John McEnaney
of Silver Bow County were the first deputies elected to the Board of
Directors. SINCE THEN MANY DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO HOLD EVERY
OFFICE INCLUDING PRESIDENT AND IT REMAINS SO TO THIS DAY.
2. Probably the largest legislative
victory of the Association is the Deputy Tenure Act. Work on this project
actually started in the middle 50's, and for many years met unbelievable
opposition not only in the legislature but with many sheriffs. We were
attempting to change a custom, a tradition, a practice that was prevalent
for many, many years, that a sheriff could hire and fire at will because
of political reasons. Every newly elected sheriff more or less brought
his broom with him and cleaned out everyone. On March 2, 1967, the Governor
signed into law this Act, removing deputies from the "Spoils System,"
and the law has since been updated to include every county. The Association
fought this long hard battle ALONE AND WON. Just a few years ago, several
deputies in Lewis and Clark County were dismissed by a newly elected
sheriff. Thanks to the Association sponsored Tenure Act and the Association's
backing of the deputies, the courts ordered the sheriff to reinstate
them.
3. Recognizing the need for
modern communications, the Association's representatives initiated and
followed through legislation, which was signed into law on March 7,
1967, creating the Montana Law Enforcement Teletype Communications Act,
which provided for the Law Enforcement Teletype Communications Committee
to be appointed by the Governor. Many sheriffs and deputies have served
on the Board which oversees the system.
4. Again, this Association
was the first law enforcement body to recognize the need for training
and education and to further this cause, we introduced and successfully
passed, on February 2, 1959, the Montana Law Enforcement Academy Act,
which not only created the Academy but also the Montana Law Enforcement
Academy Advisory Council to oversee the operation of this fine school.
Again many sheriffs and deputies, when appointed, have served this Board
well. This first class graduated in 1959.
5. This Association scored many other victories through legislative
work, i.e., by law counties must provide vehicle, liability insurance,
and other items. It was again through many years of work, that our persistence
in the legislature resulted in the creation of the Sheriff's Retirement
System, which incidentally is one retirement system that is actually
sound and projected to remain so in the future.
6. Pay and Benefits - After
long years of work, meetings and research our Association led the way
for bringing up to standards the pay of sheriffs and deputies. In fact,
most of the present officers and directors actively worked long hours
on this cause. Admittedly, the pay package fell a little short of our
expectations, but considering what we had before, we felt it was a major
victory. The legislature would not agree to sheriffs getting longevity
pay, only deputies. Nor would they agree to pay for mandatory overtime.
We had to make concessions to obtain what we thought best. We have fought
for years to continue to have our pay set by the legislature and not
at the whim of local governments who would then have virtual control
of the sheriff, his deputies and their work.
7. The MSPOA assisted in
starting the K-9 Training Center at Belt, Montana in 1967 and although
the center is administered by the Cascade County Sheriff's Office, the
Association has financially contributed many thousand of dollars to
assist in the project, as they have contributed funds for scholarships
to needy individuals throughout the State enrolled in the Criminal Justice
System.
8. Over the years, there
have been several instances where sheriffs, through no particular fault
of their own, have been made defendants in law suits by virtue of carrying
out their duties, and necessarily had to seek legal counsel to assist.
Particular incidents such as these occurred in Cascade County, Missoula
County and Judith Basin County among others. Payment of these legal
fees would have been a severe personal financial blow to these sheriffs,
but the Association stepped in and paid these costs.
9. Until a few years ago,
sheriffs were required to pay the costs of all food for prisoners, based
on a sliding scale of the number of inmates. Thanks to the Association's
efforts in the legislature, ALL food and necessary items for prisoners
housed in county jails is a legal and legitimate charge against the
county which the county commissioners must pay. No longer do sheriffs
have to scrimp and save, and even pay out of their own pockets, the
costs of these items.
10. No one is more familiar
with the problems in recent years concerning county jails, prisoners,
jail lawsuits, etc. than every sheriff in Montana. In fact, many of
them or members of their staffs are presently in litigation over these
matters. The Association, in an effort to counter these suits, established
a Montana Jails Standards Committee, headed by Sheriff Pete Howard of
Teton County. Much work has yet to be done, but the Standards this Association
has implemented will provide legal defenses for sheriffs against these
frivolous and sometimes costly lawsuits. But they are serious to the
sheriff's personnel that must defend themselves. The Association has
had to fight this battle alone.
All in all, primarily the
Association's work is done by its officers and directors. Those elected
these offices serve without pay, they put in long hours, and for the
most part, pay their own expenses, but every deputy and sheriff ever
elected has done his hob well for which every member should be grateful.
This association needs and requests the support of every sheriff, undersheriff
and deputy to meet the challenge of the future, not only to gain, through
legislative efforts, a constant upgrading of our work and pay, but to
oppose those forces in the state who seek to undermine our rapport with
the legislature, our communities and other law enforcement associations.
Copyright
© Montana Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association
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