BILLINGS — Monday was a day of solidarity for law enforcement across Montana, who joined the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office to escort the body of Deputy Jake Allmendinger to the state medical examiner’s office in Billings.
Allmendinger died Saturday night in the line of duty while responding to a welfare check in the Bridger Mountains.
On Monday, officers from multiple agencies formed a procession from the Bozeman area to take him to Billings.
"We are free because of what the first responders and the military take care of. Anybody that is in that line of work, they are putting their life on the line a lot," Billings man Matt McDonnell said at the procession. "We don't know all that they go through. I have the utmost respect for everybody that is in that line of work. I can't imagine it would be like family and it is like family. They are there for us."
The Billings Fire Department helped the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office with the procession. Other agencies included police departments from Bozeman, Belgrade, Livingston and Billings; sheriff’s offices from Broadwater, Carbon, Lewis and Clark, Park, Sweet Grass and Yellowstone counties; and the U.S. Forest Service, Bozeman Fire Department and American Medical Response. Locals lined the streets joining in the salute to Allmendinger.
The Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association has set up a fund to help the Allmendinger family. Monetary donations can be made online at the association's website.
To donate by check, make checks out to MSPOA, write “Allmendinger Family” in the memo line, and send to:
MSPOA
PO Box 794
Helena, MT 59624
Donations by credit card can be made by calling MSPOA at 406-443-5669.
Gallatin County has set up a public web page that will provide up-to-date information, including funeral service details, ways to donate, and more: https://www.readygallatin.com/jake/.
