For the past 34 years, the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police has been hosting the Peace Officer Memorial Day. Every year officers from all across Montana and Canada come to the one in Montana to honor their fallen brothers and sisters.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed into law a joint resolution of Congress making May 15 Peace Officer Memorial Day and May 15, Police Week nationwide. The Association of Chiefs of Police in Montana has been holding the event since 1988. They choose a different city or town every year to host the event. Usually, the city is in western Montana but in 2022 things were a little different. The association requested that they could host the ceremony in Sidney. Police Chief Mark Kraft said, “When we were asked to host this event I thought it would not only be an honor to do so but it would give an opportunity to showcase Sidney to people who may have never been out here before.” Since May 15 fell on a Sunday, it was decided that the ceremony should be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 so that more officers could attend. Also since the Sidney Police, County Sheriffs, and local Highway Patrol have such close working relationships with many North Dakota law enforcement agencies, the partner agencies in North Dakota will be invited to attend as well.
The event began at 10:30 a.m. in the old Pamida/Shopko parking lot. Officers marched on foot followed by a vehicle procession to the historic Richland County Courthouse. A memorial ceremony was held on the lawn, just after the parade, where Montana Lieutenant Governor Kirsten Juras gave the keynote address.
Sidney’s Chief Kraft thanked the Sidney Chamber of Commerce for helping with the logistics of the parade. He also thanked the Richland County Sheriff and Sidney Police Departments for helping to organize the event.
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