Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Tom Courtney and Undersheriff Orson Burmeister were shot and killed at a railroad camp near the Snowden Bridge in Roosevelt County. The camp had been set up by the Union Bridge & Construction Company during the construction of the Snowden Bridge by the Great Northern Railroad. One of the workers assaulted the owner of the shack he was staying in, prompting the victim to swear out a warrant. Sheriff Courtney and Undersheriff Burmeister went to Mondak, deputized a citizen, and then went to the camp to arrest the man. As they entered the company office to inquire about the suspect's whereabouts, they were surprised by the suspect who was already inside. He disarmed the deputized citizen then stepped outside and fatally shot Sheriff Courtney and Undersheriff Burmeister. The man fled but was apprehended by a posse and placed in the jail at Mondak. The local residents broke down the jail doors and lynched him. Sheriff Courtney had served with the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office for only four months. He was survived by his father. He is buried in Antelope Catholic Cemetery in Sheridan County, Montana.
Survivors
He was survived by his father.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-FB8D5A71- 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.
Sheriff Courtney served with the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Plentywood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Courtney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Tom A. Courtney 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 Sheridan County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tom A. Courtney's cause is highlighted.
How Tom A. Courtney Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tom A. Courtney is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Tom A. Courtney was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Sheridan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
