Billings Police Department

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The Billings Police Department is a police department in Billings, Montana, the main law enforcement service in Billings, Montana. It is the largest city police force in Montana with about 139 sworn officers/80 civilian employees covering 50 square miles (130 km²) and a population of about 102,000. The city is divided into nine beats and patrolled by 75 officers.

Contents 1 About 1.1 History 1.2 Chiefs 1.3 In the Line of Duty 1.4 Ranks 2 Units/Divisions 2.1 K-9 unit 2.2 Bicycle unit 2.3 Motorcycle unit 2.4 SWAT 2.5 Bomb Squad 2.6 Investigations 3 Controversy 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] About

[edit] History

Before the Billings Police Department was established, most of the law enforcing was done by the sheriffs office or by Vigilantes. The Billings Police Department was established in 1902 with about 10 Police officers on duty. Most of their jobs were shutting down red light districts and patrolling the streets. As the city grew, so did their responsibilities.

[edit] Chiefs

• Ronald (Ron) Tussing - 1997 to 2005
• Richard St. John - 2005 to present

[edit] In the Line of Duty

• Sergeant Robert T Hannah (EOW - July 2, 1904)
• Policeman Enos Nelson (EOW - December 17, 1917)
• Patrolman Arthur D. Pettit (EOW - December 23, 1935)
• Detective Alexander F. Mavity (EOW - February 14, 1989)

[edit] Ranks

• Police Chief
• Deputy Police Chief
• Captain
• Lieutenant
• Sergeant
• Police Officer
• Animal Control Officer

[edit] Units/Divisions

[edit] K-9 unit

The K-9 unit was formed in the 1970s. It currently has 3 dogs that assist suspect apprehension, drug searches and locating missing persons.

[edit] Bicycle unit

The bicycle unit was formed in 1997.

[edit] Motorcycle unit

The motorcycle unit was established in 2000 with about 5 motorcycle police officers.

[edit] SWAT

The Billings Police Department has a full tactical SWAT team.

[edit] Bomb Squad

The bomb squad was formed in the 1980s. In 2005, the Bomb Squad received its first BDR, (bomb disposal robot), with a camera, two way radio and a disposal arm. It is also used in hostage negotiations.

[edit] Investigations

The Billings Police Departments has 18 detectives on its force. This unit is commanded by a Captain, Lieutenant and Sgt.

[edit] Controversy

• In 2001, the Billings Police Department setteled a Racial_profiling case for $50,000 with the ACLU^[1].
• Some 28 current and former Billing Police officers filed a lawsuit in January 2009 claiming that the city miscalculated their pay, possibly dating as far back as 1994^[2].

[edit] See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Montana

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/racialprofiling/15852prs20011218.html
2. ^ http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=10977430

[edit] External links

• Billings Police Department