Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Patrolman

Michael M. Ren

Montana Highway Patrol — Boulder, MT

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 8, 1978

Age 30

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Badge 240

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Patrolman Michael Ren was shot and killed after being called to assist a Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy serving two felony warrants on a recently released mental patient. The subject was wanted for violating the terms of his release from a state mental health facility. Patrolman Ren spotted the subject driving a pickup truck, and a high-speed chase ensued. During the chase, the subject retrieved a .308 rifle from inside the cab of his pickup and opened fire on both officers. Five rounds struck Patrolman Ren's patrol car before the subject crashed in the town of Eureka. As Patrolman Ren pulled up, the subject jumped from his truck and shot Ren in the abdomen with the .308; the round traveled between the back panels of his Kevlar vest. The suspect ran to a nearby residence and took the household hostage. Officers from the sheriff's department, Highway Patrol, and U.S. Border Patrol surrounded the place. After six hours, the suspect released his hostages but remained barricaded inside the house. Three canisters of tear gas were fired into the home, and the suspect surrendered. The suspect was charged with the murder of a police officer and was committed to a mental institution. He was later released and committed suicide. Patrolman Ren was a United States Air Force veteran who served with the Montana Highway Patrol for six years assigned to District VI and previously served as a police officer in Columbia Falls, Montana, for two years. He was survived by his wife, a 5-year-old son, and his parents. In 2000 Patrolman Ren's son joined the Montana Highway Patrol.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, a 5-year-old son, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MT-6B729952
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Michael. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Michael is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Ren gave the Montana Highway Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Montana, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Montana Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Boulder, MT

Platform Identity mhp.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 8, 1978

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 30

Badge Number 240

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Michael M. Ren served in the U.S. Air Force (1965â1969) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Michael M. Ren 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 97,759 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 Montana Highway Patrol, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Montana Highway Patrol

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

MT — Statewide

of 142 officers

65.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious