Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 38 Montana res- idents would do well to learn more about their local, county, and state courts to have a greater personal under- standing of the decisions prose- cutors and judges are making. "Citizens should do their due diligence when voting for their local prosecutor, as that position has a tremendous re- sponsibility and effect on law enforcement relations, public safety, and quality of life in our communities," Matkin says. WHAT OUR LONGTIME OFFICERS WISH YOU KNEW If there is a fairly uniform regret among our nation's peace officers, it would likely be the impact the job inevitably has on family members and relationships. Missed birthdays, be- ing called out during the big game, and celebrating holidays before or after their designated dates on the calendar just come with the territory in law enforcement families. It is a high price to pay. "Luci and I have three boys and sometimes you do miss crucial moments, which I regret," Sheriff Dutton says quietly. Our peace officers respond to situations most of us cannot begin to comprehend, and that doesn't come without its scars. "It all leaves a mark on you," Sheriff Dutton acknowledg- es. "I wish people knew that you can't just take a squeegee and make the slate clean again and go to the next call. What you see when a peace officer arrives is someone who is atten- tive and ready to talk to you, but the residual effects on their mental health are almost overwhelming at times." "You can't unsee or unfeel it," he adds. "You burn out if you shut off your emotions and don't feel pain or insults or anger and you don't feel love or joy and you don't feel happiness. I wish people knew that." WORKING IN "THE LAST BEST PLACE" When Flanagan looks back on the multitude of jurisdictions he's been blessed to work in over the years, his time in Mon- tana is set apart by a particularly encouraging component. "What stands out to me is the interagency cooperation. I think because there are so few law enforcement officers, ev- eryone really comes together to accomplish the mission," he says. "In larger 'population dense' areas with jurisdictional overlaps, I have seen law enforcement agency conflict that was detrimental to public safety. I saw none of that in Mon- tana. Not one little bit." Flanagan, Mat- kin, and Sheriff Dutton all agree that as a whole, Montana resi- dents still sup- port their peace officers and want to work with them. "I still believe most people respect and like the police," Fla- nagan says. "The nature of the job has always brought animos- ity from some, but I believe the majority of people support the policing mission. If there has been a change, it's been the an- ti-police minority becoming more aggressive and vocal." Sheriff Dutton has worked hard to form a partnership with the members of his community, whom he lovingly refers to as his "bosses." "Montana gets the type of law enforcement they demand because they demand better and they treat us better," he says. "There's respect on both sides. We respect the citizens we serve, and our bosses—the citizens—give us respect back." Flanagan says he loved being a peace officer in the Trea- sure State. "The weather is no joke, but it's still a great place to be a cop," he says. Matkin says he generally felt very supported by the citi- zens he served. "Supportive citizens are coming forward or standing up and being heard," he explains. "As a result, a lot of the issues affecting the more urban areas or cities, such as defunding, removing school resource officers, or selec- tive law enforcement and prosecution are not taking root in Montana." "It was nice getting the occasional 'thank you for your ser- vice' from a passing citizen," he adds. "I firmly believe Mon- tana is the last best place to be a law enforcement officer." • • • Awakening at 3 a.m. to jingling keys and the unmistakable ripping of Velcro from the unfastening of a bullet-resistant vest was always a peaceful predawn ritual for me. It was so much better than the silence that prevailed through the dark- est part of the night—long after our three boys were tucked into bed. Spelling lists, sporting events, dinner, chores, and the chaos of my own job in public service were effective dis- tractions during the daylight hours, but nothing can drive those stark realities back into the shadows when you're alone at night and the person you love is out dealing with the worst situations our society has to offer. There are not sufficient words to effectively describe the immense pride I feel for my husband's 24 years of service as a peace officer in rural Montana. The same can be said for Havre Border Patrol Section headquarters

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