Pivotal police chief Ted Waggener dies at 93

Ted W. Waggener, who died on April 18 at the age of 93, was police chief of Kalispell for seven years and made some significant improvements in the department during his tenure.

He served more than 20 years on the Kalispell police force overall.

Waggener was named acting police chief on May 1, 1967, after former Chief Elvin Christopherson resigned, and took the job permanently later that year.

When Waggener started with the Kalispell Police in 1954 it was as temporary duty and relief officer. He was confirmed as patrolman in 1955; appointed sergeant on Nov. 6, 1961; and named assistant police chief on July 11, 1966.

After taking over as chief, Waggener attended the FBI National Academy, graduating during the reign of legendary lawman J. Edgar Hoover.

Among the improvements that Waggener instituted in the Kalispell department was setting up the first fingerprint file in association with Officer Ron DuPuy. It was also during his tenure that the Kalispell Police Department was linked in with the Montana Law Enforcement Teletype System that allowed communication with other police departments and sheriff’s offices around the state, as well as the FBI’s National Crime Information Center.

Waggener also increased the police presence in schools, clubs and small gatherings as goodwill ambassadors.

“If we can show Kalispell people we’re working with them and ask those same people to work with us, we’ll all solve our problems together,” he said in a 1968 interview.

On the fun side, Waggener also created a “Hall of Fame” of Kalispell law enforcement by framing old pictures he found in the office when he first became chief. The oldest picture in the collection was a shot of the first chief, Harry Stanford, who was in office from 1892-1893.

Marking his one-year anniversary as chief, Waggener exhibited his characteristic wit when he said, “Just about every time I’m starting to get smart and learn more about criminals, they turn right around and prove they’re smarter than they were a year ago. It’s a never ending fight, but you keep with it.”

Waggener resigned from the force on Sept. 9, 1974, effective immediately, citing health reasons. He and his wife, Dode, later owned and operated the Our Point of View Motel south of Bigfork for 15 years prior to her death. One of their three children, Ted A. Waggener, served on the Kalispell Fire Department for 31 years, and retired as chief in 2000.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.

Managing editor Frank Miele may be reached at 758-4447 or by email at edit@dailyinterlake.com.