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Columbia Falls Fires Longtime Police Chief

Sgt. Sean Murphy took over the department after Chief Dave Perry was terminated

By Justin Franz

The chief of the Columbia Falls Police Department was terminated July 1, nearly two months after a man who was arrested for assault walked out of the police station.

City Manager Susan Nicosia told the Beacon on July 1 that Chief Dave Perry had been terminated after a “thorough investigation was conducted.” She added that the chief, who has led the department for two decades, could appeal the decision.

Perry told the Hungry Horse News that the firing was due to an incident on May 12 when an East Glacier man accused of assaulting his girlfriend walked out of the police station without shoes or socks. A manhunt ensued and the suspect was taken back into custody an hour later with the help of Two Bear Air, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and the Montana Highway Patrol.

Some locals were also critical of Perry’s decision not to inform nearby schools and residents of the manhunt. Perry said that law enforcement knew where the suspect was and there was no need to inform the public.

Perry could not be reached for comment.

Perry began working at the police department as a reserve officer in 1978.

Sgt. Sean Murphy became acting chief on July 1.