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Law enforcement and corrections leaders outline reference-check practices for public safety hires
Summary
A stakeholder panel of chiefs, undersheriffs, and corrections officers described practices and challenges in conducting reference checks for public safety officers and discussed POST’s role in standards and recordkeeping.
In the afternoon session on Nov. 19, 2025, the Law and Justice Interim Committee heard a stakeholder panel on reference checks for public safety officers. Panelists included Chief Jordan Venezio (Kalispell Police Department), Deputy Public Safety Chief Shane Hildenstab (Department of Corrections), Andrea Bethel (Probation and Parole Captain, Missoula Region), Undersheriff Scott Van Dyken (Cascade County), Chief Michael Colyer (Missoula Police Department), and Sheriff Jeremiah Peterson (Missoula County). Timothy Allred, executive director of the Public Safety Officer Standards & Training Council (POST), also participated.
Panelists described departmental practices for checking employment and credential histories, challenges in verifying past conduct, and how POST guidance influences hiring standards. Committee members asked clarifying questions about consistency between agencies and how background-check results are documented and shared.
The committee subsequently held a work session and issued instructions to staff to draft follow-up materials. Public comments from May Simmons and Montana Public Radio’s Elinor Smith closed the meeting before adjournment.
