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Missoula honors fallen law enforcement officers at annual memorial ceremony
Summary
Missoula law enforcement agencies held a memorial ceremony to honor retired and fallen officers, read names from the memorial board, and heard a keynote from a U.S. Attorney's Office representative on the risks officers face and recent national line-of-duty death statistics.
Dozens of Missoula-area law enforcement officers, elected officials, family members and community residents attended the Missoula law enforcement memorial ceremony to honor retired and fallen officers and to recognize the ongoing risks faced by officers.
The ceremony included an invocation and benediction by Missoula Police Chaplain Dave Ludwig, the national anthem sung by Karen Rose, a wreath placement by the Missoula County Sheriff's Office honor guard, a roll call of names read by Assistant Police Chief Jake Rosling, and a keynote address by Tim Roscoe, a representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Missoula.
Why this matters: the event recognized individuals who died in the line of duty and underscored local and national concerns about the safety of law enforcement officers. Speakers cited nationwide statistics and local histories to emphasize both the sacrifices of past officers and the need for continued training and community trust.
The ceremony featured a roll call and rose placements for retired officers and those listed on the memorial board. Captain Kenny White of the Missoula County Sheriff's Office read the names of retired local officers who recently died, including Bob Giffin, who served the Missoula County Sheriff's Office for 30 years and passed away on Nov. 15, 2024; Lt. Daryl D. Johnson, who served the Missoula Police Department from 1964 to 1986 and passed away Oct. 16, 2024; Capt. Clayton L. Gregory, who served from 1970 to 1990 and passed Feb. 19, 2024; and former Missoula Police Chief Ray Roehl, who passed April 9, 2024.
Tim Roscoe, a representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Missoula, delivered the keynote. He said, "I think it's imperative that we take time to honor the officers we've lost in the line of duty, those who paid the ultimate price for their service, and to honor all of you who have chosen to work as officers, deputies, troopers, detectives, and agents taking an oath to serve and protect your fellow citizens." Roscoe discussed the physical and mental demands of law enforcement and cited national data on assaults and injuries to officers.
Speakers at the ceremony cited several numerical details discussed during remarks: one host noted that 148 law enforcement officers were killed nationwide in 2024; another speaker said that year to date in 2025, 28 officers had been killed nationwide and that represented a roughly 60% reduction relative to the same point in 2024. The ceremony's speakers also noted that no law enforcement officers in Montana were killed in the line of duty in 2024, as stated by a presenter.
Assistant Police Chief Jake Rosling conducted a roll call of officers listed on the memorial board and assisted with the ceremonial placements of roses and wreaths. Several community members and attendees, including Chris Bettencourt and Keely Kimery, participated in placing roses during the roll call portion of the ceremony.
The event closed with a benediction from Missoula Police Chaplain Dave Ludwig and an expression of thanks from event organizers to families and attendees. Organizers asked the community to continue to support local officers and their families.
The ceremony was presented as a remembrance and did not include policy votes or formal actions by any governing body.
