By HDN staff
Havre isnt exactly the murder capital of the nation, so dealing with the murders of Kristi Walker and Kevin Caplette over the past week was a rather new experience for many agencies within our community.
The Havre Police Department, with its small budget and smaller force, has done a superb job dealing with a situation that often gives the biggest, most well-equipped police departments fits.
From the time the 911 call came in last Thursday at noon, until the county prosecutors took the ropes, the Havre Police Department has stayed on top of events and ahead of the game.
The crime scene was rapidly secured, authority was delegated, and help was sought when the magnitude and girth of events was realized. The FBI was called in to assist with the collection and processing of evidence, while everyone from the U.S. Border Patrol to the Rocky Boy Police Department seven different departments in all worked in cooperation to achieve a rapid and safe conclusion to a volatile situation.
People are quick to criticize police departments for flaws that are easily amplified. Unfortunately, finger pointing is easy, but action isnt, especially when fighting an uphill battle. Nevertheless, the Havre PDs initial response and release of public information, while maintaining public safety, went smoothly. They remained informative yet cautious, cooperative but authoritative, and while critics will undoubtedly find fault with some aspect of their performance or another, the department has shined while standing under the media spotlight during this unfortunate turn of events. They have maintained a high level of professionalism and have worked quickly to place the evidence in the hands of prosecutors, which hopefully will bring this case to a successful conclusion.
The suspects are innocent until proven otherwise and there is still along way to go before this case is closed, but we think the Havre PD should be commended.
To the Havre PD: Thanks for a job well done.
