SHELBY — Twenty of the best law enforcement shooters met at the Marias fairgrounds in Shelby for some friendly competition at the shooting range.
The Montana Governor's 20 features the top shooters in law enforcement from around the state in which they compete in various exercises.
On Saturday, they engaged in a 90-shot timed course, shooting from different distances and positions.
Will Cordes has been calling the match several times, dating back to when it was hosted in Missoula in 1996.
"We're back in Shelby, and we enjoy being in Shelby," Cordes said. "We've been hosting it in August as far as I remember. We invite every law enforcement agency we can, but because of the size of Montana, having a turnout can be quite a challenge sometimes. I've come up here from Missoula, and I'm sure there are folks who have come further away than that."
Aside from the competition, organizers say that the event is all about bringing retired and current law enforcement members together as they all showcase their skills.
Neil Duram has been part of the Montana Highway Patrol since 1994 and says there is a lot of tradition in an event like this and shared how meaningful it is for law enforcement to be a part of this annual event that has been around for at least than 30 years.
"I shot it since 1997. The emphasis on the course is accuracy, but the real benefit is comradery among law enforcement officers," Duram said. "We come from all over the state, we compete, the competition is kind of our 'stress inoculation' process."
