Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Robert G. Steele

Montana Highway Patrol — Boulder, MT

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch November 2, 1946

Age 30

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 178

The Vigil Panel 83 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Trooper Bob Steele was shot and killed while he and his partner investigated a vehicle that had just been used in a robbery in the city of Billings, Montana. They observed a vehicle matching the description pull off of Highway 10 and turn its lights off. Trooper Steele and a fellow trooper, riding together, pulled in behind the vehicle. Trooper Steele approached on the passenger's side with his gun drawn. One of the occupants suddenly turned and shot Trooper Steele in the throat, killing him. Trooper Steele's partner shot and killed the suspect. The driver of the vehicle then jumped out of the vehicle and exchanged shots with the partner. Both were wounded in the shootout. The second suspect fled but was apprehended after an 11-hour manhunt. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Despite escaping prison, he was granted parole. While on parole, he was convicted of burglary and returned to prison. Patrolman Steele was a WWII veteran and had been with the Montana Highway Patrol for six years. He had returned to the police force from WWII only two months before his murder.

Survivors

He was survived by his sister, three nieces, and a nephew.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MT-573C7658
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 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 Steele gave the Montana Highway Patrol 6 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 November 2, 1946

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 30

Badge Number 178

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Robert G. Steele served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Robert G. Steele 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