Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Garfield succumbed to wounds received two weeks earlier while investigating a complaint on a rancher by the man's neighbor. As Sheriff Garfield knocked on the door the rancher opened fire with a shotgun, seriously wounding him. Sheriff Garfield attempted to drive back to town, but his patrol car's gas tank was also struck by the shotgun blast and his car ran out of gas. He was able to make it back to town after getting help from a railroad work crew. He succumbed to his wounds in a Billings hospital two weeks later. The suspect was burned to death by a posse who set fire to his house after he opened fire on them and refused to surrender. Sheriff Garfield had been with the agency for six months. His wife was appointed Sheriff to complete his un-expired term.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-71D70345- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Garfield served with the Golden Valley County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ryegate community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Garfield.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Jesse Garfield is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 65.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Golden Valley County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jesse Garfield's cause is highlighted.
How Jesse Garfield Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse Garfield is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jesse Garfield was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Golden Valley County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
