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Category Archives: Public Safety

Sheriff appeals to public for help in getting inmates transported; Montana Supreme Court rules in favor of DOC on inmate transfers

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

The Cascade County Adult Detention Center has been overcrowded for years. The jail population as of the morning of June 30 was about 460, according to Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter. About 150 beds are reserved on the state prison side of the building, which is reserved for state inmates and the state contracts with the county for that part of

City restricting to access to Civic Center as front panels cracking, buckling

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

The city manager has restricted access to the front entrance of the Civic Center due to public safety concerns. A piece of the back panel recently became dislodged, triggering the evaluation of other areas around the Civic Center, including “substantial cracking and buckling of the front panels,” according to the city. City planning to use downtown TIF funds for Civic

Local officials discuss training, police funding, changes in response to calls for reform

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

(The above photo is from a joint training with Great Falls Police Department, Great Falls Fire Rescue and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office in August 2019) For the last month, discussions have been going on nationwide about police reform and reducing for, or disbanding law enforcement agencies. Local law enforcement has been reviewing their policies and procedures and in some

GFFR reminding residents of fireworks safety for July 4

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

Great Falls Fire Rescue is reminding residents of fireworks safety for the upcoming July 4 holiday. “Our goal at Great Falls Fire Rescue is to educate residents about fire prevention and safety. There is no question about it; the data shows that incorrectly used fireworks can cause injury. I personally want the families in our community to be safe while

Man charged for biting detention officer at Cascade County jail

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said this afternoon that there was an incident at the Cascade County Adult Detention Center around 7 p.m. June 23. He said, in a release, that deputies were dispatched to the jail for a report of an assault on a detention officer. Slaughter said that Justin Len Cochran has been charged with a felony count

Inmate dies at Cascade County jail

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said June 24 that an inmate at the Cascade County Adult Detention Center died Tuesday morning. The inmate was Zachary Swanson, a 30 year-old-male, according to CCSO. “Since this was an in-custody death, this matter will be investigated by the Montana Criminal Division of Investigations and the Petroleum County Coroner’s Office,” Slaughter said in a release.

GFFR, GFPD train for mass casualty situations

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

Much of training for first responders centers around preparing for worst case scenarios. Great Falls Fire Rescue and Great Falls Police Department continued their joint training this year on what’s known as rescue task force so that they can more effectively work together in a mass casualty situation. GFFR, GFPD, CCSO train to respond to active shooter, mass casualty events

County finalizes raises for elected officials, deputies, non-union employees

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

Cascade County Commissioners finalized a 1 percent pay raise for elected officials and non-union employees during their June 23 meeting. It’s the same raise that the compensation board recommended by the Compensation Board when they met in late May. County elected officials, deputies get cost of living increase The board, which includes three county commissioners, the county attorney, treasurer, sheriff

County gets grant for new morgue at sheriff’s office

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $58,008 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to assist with COVID-19 related expenses. The County Commission accepted the grant during their June 9 meeting and had in May approved a contract with a local grant writer to prepare applications for this and other grants. The funding from this grant will

Sunday Reads: June 7

Posted on June 6, 2020 by Jenn Rowell

It’s raining, so lots of reading for you. NPR: How much do we need the police? Montana Free Press: Where do we grow from here? Foreign Affairs: The pandemic does not spell the end for cities New Yorker: How the protests have changed the pandemic Reuters: U.S. defense chief opposes deploying troops to quell protests, despite Trump threats Washington Post:

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