U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined local law enforcement, elected officials and a district judge to tour the Billings Police Departmentâs evidence facility Friday to talk about concerning levels of crime in the region.
Daines sat down with Billings city administrator Chris Kukulski, Police Chief Rich St. John, County Commissioner John Ostlund, Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder, County Attorney Scott Twito, District Judge Mary Jane Knisely, and director of the stateâs Department of Corrections Brian Gootkin.
The focus of the conversation was on rapidly increasing crime rates, drugs like methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl and the impacts those issues have on the community. The consensus among the group being that crime, drug use and violent crime are out of control and pose a serious threat to the communityâs safety and economy.