fbpx

Veteran Kalispell Officer Wins State Award

By Beacon Staff

Patrol Sgt. John Ortiz of the Kalispell Police Department has been named Montana’s Officer of the Year.

Ortiz was honored during the recent Montana Association of Chiefs of Police and Montana Police Protective Association annual conference in Kalispell.

Ortiz has been battling pancreatic cancer for the last 18 months, but has declined medical disability; and Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset says Ortiz continues to be “an immeasurable asset for the community.”

Ortiz has been with the department for 17 years. He was the first DARE officer in Kalispell and Nasset says Ortiz is a mentor within the department.