Stephen A. LePiane

Missoula Police Department — Missoula, MT

Felonious

End of Watch November 5, 1982

Age 32

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 126 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Officer Stephen LePiane was killed when his cruiser was broadsided by a drunk driver at approximately 2:00 am at the intersection of old Highway 10 and Mullen Road. He was following another officer as backup on a traffic stop when a vehicle ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed and struck his patrol car on the driver's side door. Although he was wearing his seatbelt, the impact caused him to be ejected from the vehicle. The other officer observed the accident in his mirror and immediately turned around. The 25-year-old driver was apprehended and later convicted of negligent homicide. He was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay for Officer LePiane's funeral and the value of the police car, which amounted to $12,500.00. Officer LePiane had served with the Missoula Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, father, and three siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MT-D3354DD2
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.
Officer LePiane gave the Missoula Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Missoula community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer LePiane.

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

Agency

Department Missoula Police Department

Location Missoula, MT

Platform Identity mpd.missoula.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1982

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 6 months

Officer Stephen A. LePiane 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 Missoula Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Missoula Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

MT — Statewide

of 142 officers

65.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious