Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Stephen Shaffer was struck and killed by a drunken driver during a traffic stop. Patrolman Shaffer informed dispatch that he was investigating a possible drunk driver passed out on Selway Drive. As he approached the parked car, he turned on his top lights, exited his vehicle and spoke to the drunken driver outside of the car. As he was speaking with the intoxicated driver, another drunken driver approaching from the opposite direction struck the parked car and the patrol car, killing Patrolman Shaffer and the passed out driver. The suspect was apprehended and found guilty on two counts of negligent homicide. He was sentenced to 20 years for each count to run concurrently.
Survivors
Patrolman Shaffer had served with the agency for eight years and was survived by his parents and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-11D1E117- 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.
Patrolman Shaffer gave the Dillon Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dillon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Shaffer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Stephen Carl Shaffer 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stephen Carl Shaffer's cause is highlighted.
How Stephen Carl Shaffer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Carl Shaffer is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stephen Carl Shaffer was killed by automobile.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Dillon Police Department are honored on badge.nw.