Rocky Boy salutes retiring police chief

Staff and wire report

Tuesday, the Chippewa Cree Police Department at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation bid farewell to its chief of police, Larry Bernard, who served as a law enforcement officer for more than 43 years before deciding to take off the badge.

He was widely known amongst police officers, having served in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, and was a highly respected man in the field, his niece Kirstin Russell said.

Festivities began at noon in the recreation room in the Chipeewa Cree Police Department with Rocky Boy Police Lt. Sean Richardson letting everyone in room know they were there to honor the career of Bernard, saying there was not enough time in the day to speak of Bernard's great accomplishments and the lives that Bernard had influenced or saved in his many years of law enforcement. Bernard became the chief of police for the Chipeewa Cree Police Department in 2016 and was an accomplished firearms instructor.

Richardson is taking over as acting chief of police while a search is conducted for a permanent chief.

Speakers at the event also included Law and Order Board and Business Committee members Calvin Jilot and Loni Taylor, Business Committee members Richard Morsette and Theodore Russette, and many of Bernard's law enforcement officers and staff from other tribal departments.

"It was clear that Bernard had impacted and touched the lives of so many," Russell said.

Bernard was presented with a Pendleton blanket, an American Flag, his now-retired badge, and other gifts of appreciation before he took to the podium to say a few words.

He started by saying he had not prepared a speech, but he wanted to speak to those in attendance from the heart. He went on to say he started in law enforcement July 10, 1975, and that in that time he had worked for many other chiefs of police and alongside many other officers, some of whom lost their lives in the line of duty. He continued by saying he often wondered why he was left behind and that he now knows it was to serve a purpose.

Russell said Bernard did serve a purpose in this field. The amount of respect, integrity and leadership that he has shown and earned over his 43 years as an officer can only be matched by the dedication and passion he has given to serving the community and the department he represents.

After the speeches ended, those in attendance enjoyed stories, laughing and visiting until the time came for Bernard to go 10-10 - off duty - for his final time. Officers, staff and visitors gathered outside the police department doors to watch Bernard climb into his police unit one more time to address dispatch.

"You could feel all the emotions in the air as Bernard called out '760, 35, I'm 10-10,' and the dispatcher cleared the radio to address Chief Bernard one last time, letting him know 'We have the line from here and we will hold it strong.'" Russell said.

As he was being driven home in his unit, his police officers had one final tribute to the man who had been their leader for so long. For that long stretch of road being travelled, Bernard had every officer behind him with lights and sirens, letting him know they would always stand behind him.

The day ended with Bernard's family in blue lining up outside of his residence to salute their chief a final time.