MHP and Volunteer Fire Departments formally end conflict

The conflicts between the Montana Highway Patrol and both St. Regis and West End Volunteer Fire Departments have been formally resolved after representatives from the St. Regis Volunteer Fire Department and MHP met for a moderated discussion on Friday.

Anita Parkin, former Sheriff and current EMS responder, was on hand to officially mediate and according to a press release provided by attorney Lance Jasper the meeting was “productive and respectful” and both sides came to an agreement and resolved their conflicts with one another. 

“We will work with the highway patrol and they will work with us,” Chief Jerry Dockter said. “We are just going to get back to what we need to do and just play in the sandbox together again. It’s an over and done deal with me, I’m ready to get back to work and just want to protect the people and do our job again.” 

West End Volunteer Fire Chief Bruce Charles was not on hand during the mediation process on Friday since the discussion also involved the state’s case against St. Regis volunteer firefighter Gary Dockter. However, Chief Charles said that he is glad that he and his department can get back to conducting business as usual.  

“As I understand it, it is very good and the West End Fire Department is very happy to see that the Highway Patrol wants to work together with everyone on the highway,” Chief Charles said. 

The moderated discussion also resulted in the dismissal of all charges against Gary Dockter – who was accused of lying to MHP Trooper Richard Hader during the investigation of an accident on Interstate 90. 

“I’m glad that we are finally at this point and we finally got this taken care of,” Jerry Dockter, St. Regis Volunteer Fire Chief, said of the charges being dismissed. 

Both the St. Regis and West End Volunteer Fire Departments have continued responding to calls on I-90 and Montana Highway 135 due in part to Representative Gordon Hendrick’s work to begin the arbitration process with the Attorney General’s office at a Mineral County Commissioners meeting April 11.

The discussion was added to the Commissioner’s agenda as a result of a joint statement from the St. Regis and West End Volunteer Fire Department Board of Trustees that stated both departments would cease responding to emergency calls on the highway beginning April 12. 

Commissioner Clark Conrow began the conversation by asking questions with regards to the notice.

“Does this mean that if a tax payer in your district has an automobile accident, that you will respond to that tax payer whether on I-90, highway 135 or on county roads,” Commissioner Conrow asked. 

“Probably not,” Chief Charles said. “First of all, we don’t know and second of all our concern is safety on the highways. Personally, I do not want to lead my organization into unnecessary danger.” 

Chief Dockter added that until the two departments can come to an agreement with the MHP, they would not respond. 

Commissioner Conrow continued leading the discussion and stating that he cannot blame either department for their feelings but would not want to explain those feelings to victims of crashes of highway accidents. 

The discussion continued with seemingly no resolution or action in sight – it was then that Rep. Hendrick stepped in and spoke. 

“Before this really gets totally out of hand, as your state representative I feel somewhat responsible for what is going to happen here,” Rep. Hendrick said. “I think that you need have cooler heads prevail before we totally loose our volunteers that we have, before we lose the projects that we have started and worked for for so long. Something happened on one event that needs to be corrected and I think it’s about time that arbitration sets in before anything goes to court, this needs to be taken care of.” 

Rep. Hendrick added that by continuing on the current path, the community was being pulled apart by a he said she said argument. 

“We are wasting a lot of precious time and lives out there,” Rep. Hendrick said. 

Not only has the conflict between the two agencies been formally resolved, steps are being made to ensure that such conflicts never occur again and the highways will continue to be protected.

Chief Charles said that he received a phone call on Monday from Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock’s office where they discussed working with the MHP to create a “Montana Incident Response Plan”. The plan will be a guide for proper procedure during the event of an accident or other emergency.  

“As a result of the publicity, both Jerry Dockter and I have received phone calls from other fire chiefs who have had similar problems,” Chief Charles said. “Both the Colonel (MHP Col. Michael Tooley) and the Attorney General are most interested in making problems disappear.” 

The first meeting between the MHP and Fire Departments will take place today in Helena. Chief Charles added that after a plan has been agreed upon they will be training fire fighters as well as the MHP to make sure that everyone is on the same page. 

“We do not foresee anymore difficulties,” Chief Charles said.