Billings Police Department

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 142 sworn officers/80 civilian employees covering 41 square miles (110 km2) and a population of about 105,000. The city is divided into nine beats and patrolled by 75 officers.

About

History
Billings Police Department, 1912

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.

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

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)

Ranks
Title Insignia
Police Chief
Assistant Police Chief
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Police Officer/Detective

Units/Divisions

K-9 unit

The K-9 unit was formed in the 1970s. It currently has 4 dogs that assist suspect apprehension and drug searches.

Bicycle unit

The bicycle unit was formed in 1997.

Motorcycle unit

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

SWAT

The Billings Police Department has a full tactical SWAT team.

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.

Investigations

The Billings Police Departments has 20 detectives on its force. This unit is commanded by a Captain, Lieutenant and Sgt.http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=230

Controversy
  • In 2001, the Billings Police Department settled 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]
  • In October 2012, members of a city/county SWAT deployed a flash grenade in a home they were raiding. The device went off and burned a twelve-year-old girl. Although the team was looking for a drug-manufacturing lab, they found nothing and made no arrests. The child was treated at a local hospital.[3]
  • In April 2018, Three Billings police offices disciplined for having sex on city property.[4]

See also

References
  1. ACLU of Montana Hails $50,000 Settlement in First Racial Profiling Case Brought Under State Human Rights Law | American Civil Liberties Union
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2009-09-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Grenade burns sleeping girl as SWAT team raids home, Billings Gazette, 12 October 2012
  4. http://lastbestnews.com/site/2018/04/3-billings-cops-disciplined-for-having-sex-on-city-property

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