Veteran Kalispell officer dies
The Daily Inter Lake
After a long and determined battle against pancreatic cancer, Kalispell Police Sgt. John Ortiz died Monday morning at his home in Kalispell.
A press release from Police Chief Roger Nasset praised the 17-year department veteran "for his caring and compassionate demeanor, loyalty and unwavering dedication to the community."
Nasset said Ortiz was instrumental in the development and success of the DARE anti-drug program in local schools, and that Ortiz received multiple awards through his career, including a lifesaving award, Kalispell Police Department Officer of the Year, and, most recently, the 2009 Montana Police Officer of the Year award.
"The Kalispell Police Department family would like to sincerely thank everyone in the community for your support and prayers over the last 16 months, when Sergeant Ortiz was first diagnosed with cancer," Nasset said.
Ortiz, 57, was diagnosed only days before he was scheduled to depart for the Middle East to start work as a contractor for training Iraqi police officers.
He remained with the Kalispell Police Department and started grueling chemotherapy treatment, making repeated trips to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
Most recently, Ortiz and his wife, Joy, were at a cancer treatment center in Tulsa, Okla. They were arranging to return to Kalispell about two weeks ago but found the logistics of doing so were difficult.
Retired police officer David Gullickson and his wife, Denise, along with Assistant Police Chief Roger Krauss, appealed to Todd and Davar Gardner of Gardner's RV for help.
The Gardners donated the use of an air-conditioned motor home, which the Gullicksons and Krauss drove to Denver, where they picked up John and Joy Ortiz. They returned to Kalispell and were met by police officers who escorted them into town with patrol-car lights flashing.
Ortiz entered the Montana Police Academy in 1990 and graduated sixth in a class of 28. After graduation, he was hired by the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office. He started work with the Kalispell department in 1992.
Services for Ortiz will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Christian Center Assembly of God Church on Summit Ridge Drive in Kalispell.