GALLATIN COUNTY — A year ago Monday, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and community as a whole suffered a tragic loss when Deputy Jake Allmendinger lost his life in the line of duty.
“It’s obviously solemn remembering Jake,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin.
“For me it just seems like it was yesterday but I can only imagine for the family it must feel like an eternity.”
Lost but not forgotten.
On Oct. 19, 2019, Allmendinger and his partner deputy Ryan Jern were responding to a report of a stranded car on Fairy Lake Road in the Bridger Mountain Range.
The roads were icy and caused the accident which took Deputy Allmendinger’s life.
"The most important thing I remember is just the love, the overwhelming support and the love. You know, most of those people didn’t even know Jake,” said Sheriff Gootkin, recalling his funeral at the Commons.
Allmendinger was with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office for two years. He spent years with the Gallatin County Dispatch Center and as a member of the Gallatin County Search and Rescue Team.
“His giving to the community, how much he loved the community, and how much he wanted to serve and help people,” said Gootkin. “I think that that just speaks volumes. And that’s what we try and do every day.”
MTN News asked the best way people in the community could continue to support the Allmendingers.
“I think probably what Jake would want and what they really want is to just continue to support law enforcement in general,” said Gootkin.
“You know, we’re human beings, but we’re good people, and we do this for one specific reason — and that’s to help people.”
