MISSOULA – Wednesday’s incident brought back painful memories for the Missoula Police Department. February 12, 2020, marked ten years since the death of MPD Sgt. Robert J. Heinle.
Heinle was shot in the line of duty in 1998. The Missoula Police Department posted about the incident Wednesday morning hours before one of their officers was shot at while in his patrol car.
“At approximately 5:55 p.m., on October 21st, 1998, Sergeant Heinle responded to a report of a forgery in progress at the Western Security Bank branch located at 320 West Broadway,” MPD wrote. “At 1758, Sergeant Heinle radioed that he was in foot pursuit across Broadway. Moments later, a male voice came on the radio stating, ‘Officer down, officer down, he’s been shot.'”