Gallatin County Sheriff's Office

10/16/2026

On October 14, 2026, deputies with the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office responded to the 2000 block of West College Street following a report of a body discovered in a field.

Upon arrival, deputies located an adult male deceased in the field. The individual appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

The deceased has been identified as Steven Michael Dailey, 62, of Missoula, Montana.

10/15/2026

Sheriff/Coroner Dan Springer releases name of Bozeman Homicide Victim

In the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, October 14th, 2026, the Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, and Gallatin County Coroner's Office investigated a homicide that occurred at 2504 West Main Street in Bozeman. The victim has been identified as 50-year-old Shelli Waltemath of Gallatin Gateway. Shelli was pronounced deceased at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. The suspect, initially at large, was later found deceased. The investigation is on-going by the Bozeman Police Department.

Shelli’s death is a tragedy and our deepest condolences go out to her family and friends during this extremely difficult time.

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Dan Springer, Gallatin County Sheriff/Coroner

10/10/2026

Sheriff/Coroner Dan Springer releases the name of Blackmore Mountain fall fatality, and would like to express our deepest condolences to Mr. Callum Cook’s family and friends during this time.

In the late hours of Friday, October 2, 2026, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a call from a hiker on Blackmore Mountain reporting that his friend had fallen from the peak. Three teams of search and rescue volunteers were deployed to the area while Billings Med Flight and USAF 40th Helicopter Squadron in Malmstrom were engaged for support.

Search and Rescue volunteers staged at Hyalite Reservoir and climbed through the night, reaching the reporting party by 2:00am. They began efforts to locate the fall victim, identified as 20-year-old Callum Cook. The team completed rappel descents in the dark to locate Mr. Cook, who had fallen over 200' and was determined to be deceased on scene. Volunteers remained on the summit of Blackmore to support the reporting party, packing up the camp and safely hiking out. Due to the steep and technical terrain, the Search and Rescue Heli-Alpine Team then short-hauled to the scene via Central Helicopters and transported Mr. Cook to the coroner.

Sheriff Springer thanks the dedicated search and rescue team members for their work on this difficult overnight mission, along with the USAF 40th, Med Flight and Central Copters for their support.

10/09/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of retired Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Captain Shane Frantz. Shane passed away on September 24, 2026, after a long-term illness.

Shane retired from the Sheriff’s Office in June 2022 after 32 years of dedicated service to the residents of Gallatin County. Throughout his career in law enforcement, Shane took on many important roles and accomplishments, including graduating from the FBI National Academy in 2005, serving as a detective, hiring and promotion officer, Special Response Team member, Search and Rescue coordinator, and lead fi****ms instructor.

But titles and accomplishments only tell a small part of Shane’s story. Shane was truly one of a kind, and his personality and sincerity made him a well-loved co-worker and respected leader. His impact on the Sheriff’s Office and the people he served will not be forgotten.

We are incredibly grateful to our friends at the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Foundation, who, in partnership with Shane’s family and friends, have established the Captain Shane Frantz Wellness Fund. The fund will provide support for our deputies as they navigate mental health and addiction challenges, helping carry forward Shane’s commitment to the well-being of those around him.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Shane’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Thank you for 32 years of service, Captain Frantz. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

Captain Shane Frantz was laid to rest today after battling long-term illness. In conjunction with the Gallatin County Sheriff's Foundation, friends and Family have started the 'Captain Shane Frantz Wellness Fund'

Money attributed to this fund will help support our Deputies coping with mental health and addiction.

https://www.dahlcares.com/obituaries/shane-frantz?ttm_pid=212510786&ttm_affiliate=legacypro&ttm_affiliatetype=standard&ttm_campaign=legacy

10/07/2026

UPDATE: Suspects have been identified. Thank you for your help!

📢 Hey, Gallatin County, we need your help!

During the early morning hours of October 6 (approximately 2:00–4:00 a.m.), two individuals were seen walking through the Gallatin Heights Subdivision pulling on vehicle door handles. Vehicles that were left unlocked were entered and searched.

We are asking for the community’s assistance in identifying these individuals. If you recognize them or have security camera footage that may have captured them, please contact the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office at 406-582-2100 (Option 1).

We also want to remind everyone to take a moment each night to lock your vehicle doors and remove any valuables. A quick nightly routine can help prevent crimes of opportunity.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe!

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Captain Clint Harper for graduating from session 299 of the FBI National Academy!

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training for experienced law enforcement professionals. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. The 299th session consisted of two hundred and sixty-five law enforcement officers who graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA on September 17th. The 299th session of the National Academy consisted of men and women from 44 states and the District of Columbia. The class also included members of law enforcement agencies from 28 countries, five military organizations, and four federal civilian organizations. With the graduation of session 299, a total of 57,461 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935.

09/29/2026

Today, we had the honor of officially welcoming the newest members of the Sheriff’s Office.

Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, our newest deputies Michael Johnson, Janos Zsofk, Khanner Schumacher, and Chris Hartman took their oath of office administered by Sheriff Springer.

These ceremonies mark meaningful milestones not only for those taking the oath, but for our entire organization. They reflect our continued commitment to serving our community with professionalism, integrity, and dedication.

Congratulations to our new deputies! We are proud to have you serving Gallatin County and look forward to all you will accomplish in your new roles.

09/26/2026

🚔Meet Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit (ESU)! 🚑

Gallatin County is a large, rural county, and depending on where an emergency happens, fire and EMS resources may have a significant distance to travel. Our deputies are often already out in the community and may be in a position to get to someone in need before other resources arrive.

ESU gives specially trained deputies additional medical training and equipment to provide a higher level of care while our fire and EMS partners are responding.

Over the past year, our Emergency Services Unit has continued to grow, with the goal of providing another resource when minutes can make a difference.

👮Five deputies currently serve on ESU, all with EMT/Advanced Life Support (ALS) capabilities. In 2025, ESU deputies responded to approximately 170 medical calls.

🚒 ESU does not replace fire or EMS. We work alongside them. A large part of ESU is building relationships through training together so that when a serious incident happens, everyone knows their role and can work together.

In September, ESU deputies worked with local fire and EMS personnel during a Downed Officer Rescue training. It offered an opportunity to train together, share experience from both law enforcement and EMS backgrounds, and work through a scenario that required everyone to work as a team.

Community education is another goal of ESU. Our deputies provide CPR and Stop the Bleed training to members of the community and other local agencies. Giving people the knowledge and confidence to start CPR, control severe bleeding, and provide basic lifesaving care can make a real difference while additional resources are on the way.

Five deputies is a great start, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow ESU, expand our training, and make this resource available to more communities throughout Gallatin County.

When every minute matters, every resource counts. ❤️

09/22/2026

Expect significant traffic delays on highway 191 in the canyon just north of the Greek Creek Campground at mile marker 59. Please avoid travel in the Canyon if possible. The accident is expected to take several hours to be cleared.

09/18/2026

🍎With the new school year well underway, we’re excited to introduce our School Resource Officers (SRO), Deputies Dan Mayland and Ben Burtch!

Our SROs serve more than 15 schools across Gallatin County. They work every day to build strong, positive relationships with students, educators, families, and our communities. Through community-focused policing, safety education, and daily engagement in our schools, they help create a safe, supportive environment where students can learn and thrive.

You may also see them at special events during the year, such as Shopping with a Sheriff for Christmas and Back to School, and Bike Rodeos just to name a few. This week, Deputies Mayland and Burtch joined students and staff at Malmborg School for “Donuts with Deputies” to kick off the new school year.

We’re looking forward to another great year in our schools and are grateful for the opportunity to be part of these communities. Here’s to a safe, successful, and fun school year!