Helena police officer honored for sensitive handling of family violence victims

Bill Harrington has been patrolling the streets of the Queen City for only two years with the Helena Police Department, but the 26-year-old officer is already making a name for himself.

Today, Harrington will receive the Helena Family Violence Council's Peace Officer of the Year award at a ceremony in the Montana Supreme Court Chambers.

The council -- a coalition of agencies and individuals in the Helena area who are concerned with preventing family violence -- sponsors such an award on an annual basis.

"He just does an excellent job with victims," said Deb Bakke, legal advocate for the Friendship Center and a member of the council. "He shows a nice balance between being sensitive to the needs of a victim and conducting a thorough police investigation."

Bakke said she was on hand at the Friendship Center the first time Harrington responded to the facility to handle a family violence call.

Noting that, Bakke said she wasn't sure what to expect, but Harrington soon earned Bakke's respect.

"I was impressed by the way he handled the situation," she said, adding that her confidence in Harrington's ability to address sensitive family violence situations has continued to improve in the time the officer has been on patrol.

Harrington graduated from Carroll College in 2002 with majors in business management and psychology.

He explains that he discovered his interest in law enforcement when he completed internships with Montana Probation and Parole and with Lewis and Clark County Juvenile Probation.

"It's just a passion for the kind of help you're able to offer to citizens," said Harrington when asked about what prompted him to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Harrington said he didn't start out with any aspirations of concentrating his efforts on family violence issues.

"I will go where my talents lead me and the department asks me to go," he said.

Harrington said he approaches every domestic violence situation with a great deal of caution, knowing that victims in those cases are particularly vulnerable and require a certain type of sensitivity on the part of investigating officers.

"I know I need to come in at a soft angle," he said, adding that he is always conscious of that considering that the majority of victims of domestic violence are women and children who have had negative experiences with the male figures in their lives.

Harrington added, "I find it satisfying in getting justice carried out in such a revolving door type of crime."

Harrington said he has lots to learn and is humbled by the council's decision to recognize him with the award.

"Every officer on the street takes these kinds of calls and does this kind of work, so I don't know how they came up with me," he said.

Helena Police Chief Troy McGee said last week that the department has hired a number of new officers in the past couple of years, adding that their energy and enthusiasm are great assets to the department.

"It's great to see someone who's fairly new take on an issue like this and to have their efforts rewarded like this," he said.

The award ceremony is scheduled to begin today at 2 p.m. in the Montana Supreme Court Chambers, located in Room 414 of the Justice/State Library Building.