Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Joshua Rutherford was shot and killed when he and another deputy responded to a domestic disturbance on U.S. Route 2 in Harlem, Montana.
Upon their arrival at the scene, the deputies encountered one of the subjects next to a motel. The subject was able to gain control of Deputy Rutherford's service weapon and opened fire on the deputies, killing Deputy Rutherford and wounding his partner. Deputy Rutherford was off duty at the time but had been called in to assist at the scene of the domestic disturbance.
The subject was apprehended following the shootings and was transferred to a jail in a neighboring county. The man was a registered violent offender. The suspect was convicted of deliberate homicide and attempted deliberate homicide on November 5, 2004. On December 9, 2005, he was sentenced to life without parole for Count I, Deliberate Homicide, for causing the death of Deputy Rutherford. He also received a consecutive sentence of life without parole for Count II, Attempted Deliberate Homicide, for attempting to kill Deputy Loren Janis. Furthermore, the defendant was declared a persistent felony offender and sentenced to an additional 100 years to run consecutive to the two life sentences.
Deputy Rutherford had served with the Blaine County Sheriff's Office for 4 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four young children, parents, three sisters, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-7ADE6155- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Rutherford gave the Blaine County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chinook community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rutherford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joshua Thomas Rutherford is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Blaine County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joshua Thomas Rutherford's cause is highlighted.
How Joshua Thomas Rutherford Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joshua Thomas Rutherford is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joshua Thomas Rutherford was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Blaine County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
