A May 16 killing of a Broadwater County Sheriff’s Deputy near Three Forks underscored the inherent danger in law enforcement work. Deputy Mason Moore was attempting to conduct a traffic stop along Highway 287 near the Interstate 90 Three Forks interchange at approximately 3 a.m. when he was shot and killed.
A Gallatin County officer responding to the scene was able to review patrol car video to provide a description of the suspects’ vehicle, officials said. A statewide “attempt to locate” alert was issued and Montana Highway Patrol troopers spotted the suspects’ vehicle near Anaconda.
Spike strips were deployed near Powell County but were unsuccessful in stopping the vehicle. Two suspects, 61-year-old Lloyd Barrus and his son Marshall Barrus, 38, were apprehended about 4:30 a.m. near Rock Creek following a shoot out. The younger Barrus later died and the father remains in custody.
Law enforcement agencies involved in responding to the incident included the Montana Highway Patrol, Anaconda Police, sheriff’s officers from Butte-Silver Bow, Gallatin County, Missoula and Granite County.
The Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation into the incident.
“This is a tremendously sad day for all of us here in Broadwater County,” said Broadwater County Sheriff Wynn Meehan after the incident. “It’s difficult to adequately describe how devastating it feels to lose one of our own in the line of duty. Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end. His actions will never be forgotten.” Moore, 42, leaves behind a wife and three young children.
U.S. Senator Jon Tester issued a message of condolence that said, “With a heavy heart, Sharla and I join all Montanans today to mourn the loss of Deputy Mason Moore. We send our condolences to the Moore family and his colleagues at the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office. Montanans are grateful for his service to our state, and we will not forget his sacrifice.”
As have officers throughout the area, Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies have been affected by the incident. Dispatchers from Jefferson County have been on the job in Broadwater County almost daily and some patrol shifts have also been covered by Jefferson County officers.
A contingent of local officers joined in Tuesday’s procession from Three Forks to the funeral for Deputy Moore. Over the coming week or so, Jefferson County will be covering coroner duties in Broadwater County, as well as dispatching and patrol duties, to allow officer’s who worked with Moore to attend a memorial service set for his home state of South Carolina.
Wearing a black elastic mourning band across his badge in honor of Moore, a symbol shared by law enforcement officers all across the state, Jefferson County Sheriff Craig Doolittle said Mon- day, “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Broadwater County.” He also said law enforcement is investigating other events in Jefferson County with a possible connection to the incident, which reportedly began at Canyon Ferry and continued across multiple counties.
Doolittle said he spoke with his officers shortly after the events, especially those on duty that night, and said everyone is doing all right, though something like the shooting always raises thoughts of what can happen on the job. “You just never know,” he said. The most prevalent attitude among his officers, said Doolittle, is “we’re going to put on our uniforms, go to work and do our jobs.” He added, “That’s what they do.” An officer cannot let something like this make him afraid to do his job, and he said he tells his officers “fall back on your training.” Law enforcement officers know the danger is “always kind of out there,” even on what would usually be a fairly simple traffic stop, said Doolittle.
But it is part of the job that they have agreed to do, a job that they took on because they love it and can’t imagine doing anything else, he said. Serving and protecting the public is a calling shared by all of his officers, said Doolittle.
Montana Governor Steve Bullock ordered flags lowered to half-mast on May 23 in honor of Moore. In a statement, Bullock said, “A life taken too soon, our state is safer and stronger because of the daily courage, commitment, and sacrifice of this hero to protect the citizens of Mon- tana. The thoughts and prayers of my family and administration are with the family, friends, and colleagues of Deputy Moore and Montana’s law enforcement community.”
