Billings Police Department

Updated on Nov 11, 2023

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Phone +1 406-657-8200

Address 220 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101, USA

Billings police department swears in three new officers

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.

Billings police department s new pickups

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.