Sheriff's Posse gets big donation of radio equipment

Law enforcement officers carry a variety of equipment with them when they go to work, including firearms.

But ask any of them what they consider their most important tool, and the answer is likely to be the two-way radio.

Last Friday at the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, the county Sheriff's Posse and representatives of L3Harris Technologies held a short ceremony to mark a donation of nearly $800,000 worth of radios to the Posse from the Florida-based company.

Paul Jenkinson, a member of the Sheriff's Posse, said radios are the most important tool officers and deputies carry while on the job.

"They are a lifeline for officers and they are absolutely critical," Jenkinson said. "There are times when you might be alone at a crime scene at 2 a.m. and having the ability to call for backup is essential."

Sheriff Brian Heino was thankful for the gift, too.

"It's one of the most significant donations I've seen," Heino said. "We've had a 6,000-call increase at this point of the year from 2020 and we couldn't keep up with everything without the work of our Posse members," Heino said. "As a leader you are concerned about your people when they're out there, and it helps me sleep a little bit better knowing they have great communication devices."

The Sheriff's Posse, a local, volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to supporting the sheriff's office, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

"With 65 auxiliary and sworn reserve officers, their primary mission is to support the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. This mission includes responding to emergency callouts, providing access control to crime scenes, assisting in the detention center and working on patrol with full-time deputies," Heino said.

"Our office would have a challenging time if it were not for the volunteer efforts of the Sheriff's Posse. We often call on them at very inconvenient times like in the middle of the night, on weekends, or on holidays," he said. "The Posse is a huge asset for this community that many people simply aren't aware of."

ORSON GOLD is a member of the Sheriff's Posse and also owns Gold Communication Services, a L3Harris dealer for western Montana. He saw the need for better communication equipment for Posse members.

"I started talking with them about getting better equipment, and it turned into much more than any of us imagined," Gold said. "When they told us they'd donate radios for all the Posse members, we were a little shocked. … Typically, some companies will offer some kind of discount, but this was a very pleasant surprise."

Sheriff's Posse Cmdr. Travis Sallee described the donation as "incredible."

"We're a self-supporting organization, so when it comes to equipment, we sometimes have to work with what we can," Sallee said. "This is the first time we've had a single unified platform that works with the sheriff's office, 911 dispatch and Montana Highway Patrol."

Sallee also emphasized the importance of first-rate communications equipment.

"There are times when a suspect is taken to the hospital because they need to be medically cleared before they can be taken to the jail, so Posse members will help with watching them. This allows the officers to get back on the road to answer more calls," Sallee said. "We also may be at a crime scene to keep it secure while an officer or a detective waits for a search warrant. The radios increase the efficiency of our communication with everyone else.

"We are incredibly grateful of L3Harris for this extraordinary donation and their continued support of our organization," he added.

The donation included 65 model XL-200 radios along with programming equipment, required security software and other various other equipment that allows the radios to communicate within the county and state's secure 911 communication platforms.

Gov. Greg Gianforte also recognized L3Harris for its donation.

"With this generous gift from L3Harris, the Flathead County Sheriff's Posse will be able to continue its critical mission to support local law enforcement and protect public safety," Gianforte said.

Alice Smith, a Kalispell-based staffer for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, also voiced gratitude on behalf of Tester's office.

"While some call for less law enforcement, we certainly do not agree. We need all the help we can get," Smith said. "We have deep gratitude for the Posse and their sacrifice to keep the citizens of Flathead County safe."

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.