Crisis  Intervention

 Team  Academy # 12

 

Date: February 12-16, 2018

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 Location: Bobcat Stadium

1 Bobcat Circle, Bozeman MT 59717

 

This CIT academy is based on the Memphis model.

Its purpose is to assist first responders (law enforcement officers), detention staff, and dispatchers in engaging, assessing, and assisting individuals in crisis with mental and/or co-occurring substance disorders. CIT is a 40-hour evidence based training that encompasses tools and skills needed for first responders, detention staff, and dispatchers to better manage individuals presenting with mental health and/or co-occurring substance disorders.  This training exposes the participants to materials and experiences from trained mental health and medical professionals to better prepare them to effectively and safely work with this unique population.

 

This training is for all law enforcement officers, Detention Officers, and Dispatchers in the State of Montana.

After successful completion of this forty-hour course,

the law enforcement officer will be certified by Montana

DPHHS Addictive & Mental Disorders Division

and Montana P.O.S.T. as a CIT Officer.

CIT Academy instruction includes:

Suicide assessment and intervention

Substance abuse and dual diagnosis

Introduction to mental illness

Psychotropic medications

Legal issues

Elderly and children’s issues

Developmental disabilities

Intervention strategies

Scenario training

Site visits 

Tuition:      $125.00 per student

For registration or further information, contact:

Chelsey Pengra

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office

Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator

chelsey.pengra@gallatin.mt.gov

Office (406) 580-2130

 

Pre-registration is required.

Limited space  available.

On 01/29/2018, at approximately 2:16 p.m. The West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch received a 911 call from a snowmobiler reporting that a member of her snowmobiling group was injured. The injured snowmobiler, a 68 year-old female from Idaho Falls, Idaho, had suffered a possible broken ankle when the snowmobile she was riding as a passenger on overturned pinning her leg underneath. The operator of the snowmobile was attempting to maneuver up a slight incline onto a smoother portion of the trail when the snowmobile overturned.

Personnel from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Gallatin County Search and Rescue, and Hebgen Basin Fire Department responded to assist with the rescue.

Rescuers quickly located the injured snowmobiler on the Idaho/Montana border south of West Yellowstone using the GPS coordinates retrieved from the 911 call and assessed her condition. The injured snowmobiler was loaded into a rescue sled and transported safely to West Yellowstone where a Hebgen Basin Fire Department Ambulance transported her to Rexburg for evaluation.

Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin would like to remind beginner snowmobilers to ride within their skill level and stay on marked trails. Operators should understand that riding with a passenger complicates the operation of the snowmobile by adding weight and hindering maneuverability.

(Gallatin County, Mont.)

Sunday at 3:30 a member of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was flagged down at the Blackmore Trailhead in Hyalite Canyon.  An MSU freshman had been hiking the Blackmore trail when he came across two skiers just off the trail.  One of the skiers had suffered a severely dislocated shoulder and was having difficulty continuing down the mountain. The reporting party was able to mark a GPS location for the skiers and then hiked back to the trailhead to get help.

Rescues were able to reach the skiers via snowmobile and skis. The 43 year old man from Bozeman was loaded into a sled and GCSAR skiers brought him and his partner to an AMR ambulance waiting at the trailhead.  He was transported to BDH.

Photo courtesy of the Sheriffs Office and Clay Croft

(Big Sky, Mont.)

On Thursday, January 25th, 2018 at 3:35 p.m., paramedics from the Big Sky Fire Department were dispatched to a report of a 37 year old male skier who had struck a tree on Elkhorn Run at Big Sky Resort.  The Office of the Sheriff/Coroner has identified the man as Matthew Jay Montag of Washington, D.C.  Mr. Montag was located by fellow skiers who performed CPR until Big Sky Resort Ski Patrol arrived on scene.  Members of ski patrol took over life saving measures and moved him to a helicopter landing zone.  He was later pronounced dead by a physician. #####

The Fort Ellis Fire Department agrees with the Bozeman Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee in calling for a reduced speed limit on I90 from the top of Bozeman Pass to Belgrade, says Mike Cech, Chief of the Fort Ellis Fire Department. Chief Cech notes that in 2017 Fort Ellis responded to I90 115 times and for 24 calls in December and 13 calls so far this month. Of these calls, 19 have been in a 3 mile stretch between Bear Canyon and Trail Creek where I90 enters Rocky Creek Canyon. This area is notorious (to us) for developing black ice when approached from the West where roads are clear and dry. Chief Cech observes that a lower speed limit will potentially serve to reduce accidents and improve public and responder safety. Timely highway maintenance, improved road surface treatment, and signage would go a long way to reducing accidents and will also improve highway safety in these high accident locations during bad weather as will warnings posted on the sign board at MP310.

In summary, Chief Cech asks all travelers to slow down and watch out for changing conditions between Bozeman and Livingston.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has seen a spike in the number of 911 misdials or pocket dials in recent months. These calls congest the 911 dispatch center and divert public safety personnel and resources from actual emergency calls.

In Gallatin County, 911 misdials are commonly received throughout the year but spike in summer and winter months when larger numbers of people come to the area to visit and recreate. This winter season the Sheriff’s Office has seen a drastic increase in accidental 911 calls. In November, the Sheriff’s Office received 107 911 misdials and 248 in December.  January is on course to be as high as December, if not higher.

The majority of the 911 misdials received by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office in the winter months come from the ski slopes of Big Sky and Bridger Bowl. Skiers and snowboarders unknowingly activate the emergency call features on their cellular phones and watches while skiing and snowboarding.

Understanding how your particular cellular device works is important in order to prevent the activation of the emergency call features. It is also important to know how to properly store your device while recreating outdoors to avoid accidental misdials as cold weather can also cause the emergency features to activate and call 911.

In the event you do accidentally call 911, please stay on the phone, be courteous and answer all questions asked. This will allow dispatchers and law enforcement to quickly address and close the calls and move on to other pressing matters.

                                   

Law Enforcement Seeks Public’s Assistance

The Belgrade Police Department and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in a recent criminal case.

Law enforcement is seeking the following items, possibly disposed of after a criminal act: one pair of tan boots, one pair of tan/black hiking shoes, two pairs of gloves, a Garmin GPS unit and a pistol. Law enforcement requests if anyone locates items consistent with the above listed items to not disturb the evidence and immediately call the Belgrade Police Department at 406-388-4262.

You may remain anonymous. Persons providing information leading to the recovery of the above items may be eligible for a reward.

All Citizens,

The entire team of officers working this investigation would like to report that an Arrest Warrant was issued this afternoon and served in Bozeman, Montana.

Officers Arrested:

Joseph Paul DeWise, 46 y.o.a. ,  male resident of Bozeman, Montana for Deliberate Homicide in the shooting death of his wife, Lauren DeWise.

DeWise was arrested during a traffic stop at approximately 1530 hrs. without incident and transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center.

Bail Amount has been set at $1,000,000.00.

Please understand that this investigation is still active and more charges are likely in the near future.

More detailed and factual information can be found in the charging documents that have been filed with the Gallatin County Justice Court located at the Law and Justice Center.

Thank you,

Chief E. J. Clark

 

Citizens of Belgrade and the Gallatin Valley,

The Belgrade Police Department responded to a shooting incident on Idaho Street in Belgrade on January 7, 2018 at approximately 9:00 a.m.

Upon arrival officers entered and located two victims. One victim was deceased and one was transported to the hospital for medical treatment and remains hospitalized. No one else was inside the home at that time. After speaking with witnesses officers located and detained a person of interest and that person was interviewed.

Throughout the day and night Investigators and officers from the Belgrade Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bozeman Police Department, Montana State University Police and members from Federal agencies have worked tirelessly to complete numerous interviews, process the scene and follow up leads developed by their efforts and those reported by citizens.

It became apparent that the person of interest would need to be released without arrest. I understand this fact will upset people and they will not understand the reasons. Everyone must understand that the investigators know the severity of this case and they share the public’s feelings for justice.

We realize that those not familiar with how the Justice system works may not understand this process and become angry and frustrated. We in Law Enforcement hear you and understand your feelings and concerns. We also know that you want us to get it right.  I can tell you that the investigative team is working very hard to obtain justice for these victims and their families.

Without someone in custody several people have raised concerns about the publics’ safety during this time. The investigators and command staffs involved in this case want you to know that the public’s safety is our number one concern.  If we feel there is an urgent public safety risk we will immediately notify you by the quickest means.

During these investigations we cannot give out all the details that everyone wants to know. We sympathize with you and ask for your understanding and patience. Please trust in the officers that we all count on.

Respectfully,

Chief E. J. Clark Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

(West Yellowstone, Mont.) On 01/07/2018 at  3:47 p.m. a forest service law enforcement officer was contacted at Lionshead Trailhead by a wayward snowmobiler who said his three companions had entered an area that he was uncomfortable riding in because of the steep slope and deep snow conditions.  The 16 year old male from Bozeman decided not to enter the area and instead stayed on the trail and followed it to the trailhead.  He had been texting with his companions who provided GPS coordinates of their location however indicated they had become stuck and were attempting to extricate their snowmobiles. By  5:16 p.m. it had become apparent that they would be unable to get their snowmobiles unstuck and find their way out of the steep canyon they had entered. Volunteer Rescuers from Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, and the Forest Service responded to assist.

Information received via text message with the snowmobilers indicated that they were located in a deep canyon near Lionshead Mountain approximately 15 miles west of West Yellowstone. They reported that they were getting cold but had been able to get a fire going.  Rescuers split into two teams attempting to find the best way into and out of the area. When found the two MSU students from Bozeman and one 22 year old male from Denver Colorado were escorted out of the canyon. Due to the steep terrain and deep snow present in the canyon, rescue teams had an extremely difficult time getting the snowmobiles unstuck and back out to the trail.

Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin would like to remind snowmobilers that it’s not uncommon to become disoriented and/or stuck in steep mountainous terrain. Proper equipment and survival gear can make all the difference when faced with the possibility of spending a significant amount of time out in the elements. Snowmobilers are also encouraged to only ride areas within their skill level. #####