Serving the citizens of Yellowstone County as your Sheriff for the last 11 years has truly been an honor and a privilege. It has been exciting, challenging and rewarding. I am proud of our many accomplishments and believe we have the best team of dedicated professionals in the state. 

Advancements in Fighting Crime

Crime Scene Van

Over the past few years we have obtained some fantastic equipment to enhance our crime fighting and investigative capabilities. In 2020, we took possession of our new crime scene van, which was purchased with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. This high-tech vehicle is utilized in crime scene investigations, search and rescue operations, and is available to other agencies in our region.

Air Support

Through the LESO 1033 program, we received three Bell OH-58C helicopters, which were previously used for training in Ft. Irwin, CA by the US Army. In 2021, we refurbished one of the helicopters and put it to work. It’s value to our community was immediately apparent. Volunteer pilots fly the helicopter on missions including search and rescue and tracking criminals in our area. Our helicopter was used several days in transporting search and rescue personnel during the recent Beartooth Mountain search. It was also instrumental in locating two homicide suspects that were in our area as well as capturing several car thieves.

Public Safety Communications

We continue to upgrade our radio communications system. We recently joined forces with the statewide radio project that allows seamless communications between multiple agencies. This system allows our law enforcement officers to communicate with other officers or our local dispatchers from nearly anywhere in the state.

I was recently appointed to the Statewide Radio Advisory Board by Gov. Gianforte.

Jail Safety

We recently installed a body scanner at the Detention Facility which allows Detention Officers the ability to check incoming inmates to determine if they are carrying contraband (drugs/weapons) on their person.

Jail Expansion

In 2018, we opened our new 148 bed Women’s Detention Unit. Prior to that nearly 100 female inmates occupied a space designed to hold less than 40 inmates. Additional male inmates now occupy the space that was once used to house female inmates.

Expanding our detention facility was necessary from a safety and security standpoint of both the YCDF employees and the inmates. I was determined that taxpayer impact would be minimal for this investment. In 2016, voters approved a ballot issue that allows Yellowstone County to borrow the funds needed for this renovation that is now complete.

Relieving Jail Overcrowding

On October 1, 2011, a law went into effect in Montana which allows local Sheriffs to set up a 24/7 program in their county. Participants in this program must provide a breath test twice daily to prove they have not been drinking alcohol. Participants pay $2.00 each time they test. In Yellowstone County, those who test positive for alcohol are escorted across the lobby and into the secure walls of the detention facility. Those who test clean are free to leave and do not take up a much needed bed in the facility. We have had over 100 people signed up for this program at one time with a 99%+ success rate. We are proud to say that within a week of this bill becoming law, we had our program in Yellowstone County up and running.

Another jail population reduction program I initiated is our Sheriff's Labor Detail (SLD). In this program offenders allowed to serve time as a mittimus are sentenced to the custody of the Sheriff. In the past, mittimus offenders were allowed to work with jail staff to schedule the days they spend in jail. Under the SLD program instead of having to actually serve time in jail, we put these offenders to work doing community service in non-profit and community organizations. For every 8 hour day the offender works in the program, he/she is given 2 days of credit towards their sentence. These inmates pay a one time registration fee of $25.00 and $25.00 per day to participate in this program. At the end of the workday they are allowed to return home. Offenders must meet certain prerequisites before they are allowed to participate in this program and state law dictates who is prohibited from participation.

Search and Rescue

We have greatly enhanced our Search and Rescue program. We have formed a Special Services Division that includes a certified professional water rescue and dive team. We have a group of dedicated team members that meet regularly to train for multiple possible scenarios on both land and water. 

We continue to enhance our SAR program with additions such as our mobile command post/crime scene van as well as our recently acquired helicopter.

Cold Case Unit

By 2019, members of our Cold Case Unit had put together enough evidence to solve two of our cases. The 45 year old Bernhardt double homicide case and the 1998 murder of Miranda Fenner are now closed. These announcements brought national media attention.

This group of expert volunteers reviews unsolved homicide cases in Yellowstone County using new investigative techniques and fresh eyes. We have re-opened all unsolved Yellowstone County homicide cases dating back to 1973 and hope to continue to bring closure to these victim's families. We are taking advantage of new technology that has become available since some of these crimes were committed. Many citizens in our community have donated funds to be used for processing evidence from these cases. This has been a long held vision and I want to bring closure to the families of these victims. 

Yellowstone County Cold Case Judy Hatten video

Yellowstone County Cold Case Jeanette "Charlie" Atwater video

My Service

I continue to serve on a variety of boards and committees. As I mentioned earlier I was appointed to the Statewide Radio Advisory Board by Gov. Gianforte. I was elected as third vice president of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (MSPOA) and I serve as the Chair of our Government Relations Committee. I am also the liaison between the MSPOA and the Attorney Generals's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Task Force. The purpose of the SAKI Task Force is to see that all unsubmitted sexual assault kits are tested to determine if DNA evidence exists. Because of my commitment to our current Cold Case investigations, I felt this was a good fit. Many kits have gone untested for a variety of reasons, usually the DNA evidence is not needed due to a guilty plea or the victim's unwillingness to pursue the investigation. Through the SAKI, all kits will now be tested and the evidence obtained from these tests will be entered into the CODIS data base. 

I am on the Advisory Board for the Child Advocacy Center in Billings. The Child Advocacy Center coalesces interested parties so that child victims of crime need only be interviewed once. The Billings CAC aims to reduce the prevalence and adverse impact of child abuse and neglect especially child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse. 

As the Sheriff, I am also the Coroner in Yellowstone County. I have an Assistant Coroner who oversees the Coroner’s Division within our office.

Moving Forward

We truly have a great group of law enforcement professionals protecting our community. As I look ahead I want to sustain our momentum and to ensure we are doing all we can to keep our citizens safe. As our county population increases with several new subdivisions, I am considering efficient ways in which we can serve these developments and all outlying parts of the county. I have already reached out to our deputies asking for ideas and I will always seek out new answers. 

I am a diligent manager of the Sheriff's Office budget and will continue to pursue cost saving measures while at the same time ensuring the safety of our employees and our citizens. 

Thank you,

Mike Linder