BOZEMAN – Law Enforcement Memorial Day is celebrated on May 15 across the county.
This year, Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore will be recognized during the national ceremony in Washington DC. Because Moore’s family will be traveling to Washington DC for the national ceremony on the 15th, Montana’s law enforcement decided to hold its ceremony a week early.
Moore was killed on May 16, 2017, after being shot during an early morning incident when he pulled over an SUV for speeding.
On May 8, 2018, law enforcement from across the state will pass through Three Forks, honoring two who have made the ultimate sacrifice – then later that afternoon, all law enforcement will gather as one.
“Three Forks is an interesting place,” said Montana Highway Patrol Col. Tom Butler. “(On) December 1, 2010, We lost a trooper David DeLaittre, you can almost throw a rock between the two scenes (Where Moore and DeLaittre were killed). I drove by there this morning on my way down just to sort of think back a little about everything that’s gone on there and I’ve been there for.”
“Obviously the memorial part of it is paying respect to the ultimate sacrifice that these people have laid down,” added Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin. “But every day there’s a bunch of us that are keeping everyone safe and we want to make sure that those people are recognized as well.”
“At 1 p.m. at the Commons at Baxter and Love we’ll be doing the statewide Law Enforcement Memorial Service,” said Bozeman Police Chief Steve Crawford. “We’ll have officers and deputies and troopers from all over the state there and we’re also expecting attendees from Canada.”
The procession will be from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8th, through Three Forks.
All events including the afternoon ceremony are open to the public.
