The montana highway patrol was founded in 1935 after montana led the nation with a 74% increase in highway fatalities. The stillwater river in the beartooth moutains right outside of nye montana. Helena, the state capital city, stages a vigilantes day with a parade and other events each year, but perhaps the greatest tribute montana has given them is the symbol 3777 on the patch worn by montana highway patrol troopers across the state. Welcome to the montana highway patrols official facebook page. Brazos county constable precinct 5 texas, tx, police patch insignia collection. Oct 01, 2011 the montana highway patrol patch was adopted in 1956 as a tribute to the vigilantes, the first law enforcement group in the montana territory. Vision zero nd commit to safe, distractionfree driving. Governor proposes 10 percent budget cut for highway.
Although there are several theories, no one really knows what the numbers mean. Oct 08, 2017 helena, the state capital city, stages a vigilantes day with a parade and other events each year, but perhaps the greatest tribute montana has given them is the symbol 3777 on the patch worn by montana highway patrol troopers across the state. Montana highway patrol montana department of justice. Why do montana highway patrol officers wear 3777 on their. The mhp uses these numbers on troopers shoulder patches and car door. The montana highway patrol, in adopting this early symbol, honors the. The montana highway patrol mhp is the highway patrol agency for the u. Patrols patch and date back to the vigilantes who first brought law and order to.
Apr 14, 2009 but the shoulder patch worn by the state highway patrol of montana is an interesting design bearing one of the most intriguing insignia found in the law enforcement world. Police challenge coins john law california highway patrol police badges police patches. Three forks pauses to remember their fallen friend, trooper. We look at the books and newspaper reports pertaining to montana vigilance, and see when and where 3 7 77 first appears. Index of montanarelated articles wikimili, the free. The montana vigilantes never revealed the meaning of 3777, which has led. On the patch of every montana highway patrol officer uniform, there is a series of numbers under the state seal. As drivers take to the road to celebrate the labor day weekend, troopers from the montana highway patrol, the idaho state police and the north dakota highway patrol will. Its a good resource for anyone trying to figure out whats happening on montana s roadways if youre traveling find out what highways might slow you down also shows when the call was received and. The numbers were added to the patch in 1956 and added a final gloss of respectability to the actions of the original law enforcement group. What is certain though, is that once launched, the numbers took on a life of their own. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in montana.
Montana highway patrol california highway patrol, police. The mysterious numbers 3 7 77, often posted on doors were used for years as a symbol of banishment in montana. Why do montana highway patrol officers wear 3777 on their uniforms. The web page maps the locations and is updated in realtime. What is 3 7 77, associated with the montana vigilantes. Montana vigilantes and the origins of 3777 by frederick allen a very exclusive party a firsthand account of building the union pacific railroad by ernest haycox, jr. Dover armynavy store offers one of the largest collection of police patches for all 50 states and much more. How the code 3 7 77 came to be associated with the montana vigilantes is something of a historical puzzle. Why do montana highway patrol officers wear 3777 on.
The 3777 numbers have been part of the montana highway patrol s shoulder patch and car door insignia since 1956 as a tribute to the first peoples police force. Montana, patches, police, historical memorabilia, collectibles. Today, the emblem is worn on the shirts of the montana highway patrol. Today, the patch worn by members of the montana highway patrol has the numbers 3777, the same numbers written on the note pinned to frank little at the time of his death. Governor proposes 10 percent budget cut for highway patrol. In helena, the state capital of montana, their annual vigilantes day celebration takes place with events, music, great food, wonderful vendors, and a parade. Money back guarantee ensures you receive the item you ordered or get your money back.
Another common version has the numbers as the dimensions of a grave. As is so often the case, our best path to solve this mystery is to go back to the primary literature. But perhaps the greatest tribute montana has given them is the symbol 3777 on the patch worn by montana highway patrol troopers across the state. The numbers were added to the patch in 1956 to revere the history of vigilantism in the state. In what year was the historic 3777 added to the shoulder patch by thenchief alex stephenson. Vtg alaska highway patrol hatbluemeshsnapback patch trucker capeagle bear. The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to the u. What is 3777, associated with the montana vigilantes. The state of montana has developed a comprehensive group insurance benefits program including medical plan options with prescription drug and vision exam coverage, dental plan, an employee assistance program eap, life insurance options, flexible spending account options and longtermcare insurance. It is a short string, 3777 and the weirdest part is, nobody seems to know what it stands for. But the shoulderpatch worn by the state highway patrol of montana is an interesting design bearing one of the most intriguing insignia found in the law enforcement world.
People who found the numbers 3777 painted on their tent or cabin knew that they had better leave the area or expect to be on the receiving end of vigilantism. It is fully embroidered with the state seal at center and the mysterious 3777 code used my montana troopers. The montana vigilantes never revealed the meaning of 3 7 77, which has led to speculation about its meaning. Around 1863, the vigilantes began using the code as they sought to bring peace to the territory. This summer a family member handed me this book, a decent, orderly lynching, knowing my love for history. Jul 01, 2001 the 3777 numbers have been part of the montana highway patrols shoulder patch and car door insignia since 1956 as a tribute to the first peoples police force. Montana highway patrol is proud to offer you crash and incident reports. What is the significance of 3777 on the montana state.
Twentyfour recruits taken from an application pool of over 1500 were selected to attend the first highway patrol recruit academy, and on may 1, 1935 those recruits took to the highways. Scots in the north american west by ferenc morton szasz. Montana highway patrol patch 3777 was the symbol used by the montana vigilantes vigilance committee in virginia city, montana. In the last several years they have become as popular with civilians and law enforcement as they have been with the military and special forces.
Nov 30, 2016 the sequence 3 7 77 dates at least to the montana territory, when organized law enforcement and court systems in the area were limited. In a decent, orderly lynching, frederick allen found that superintendent of montana highway patrol alex stephenson personally designed the existing logo that incorporates the 3777 code. There is no record on why it was put on the logo, or a clear policy on what it refers to. What is the significances of the 3777 on the montana. I dont remember a lot from the montana history class i took many having grown up in sw montana and lived here for most of my life, i have often been intrigued by the history of the vigilantes of yesteryear. The 3777 numbers have been part of the montana highway patrols shoulder patch and car door insignia since 1956 as a tribute to the first. Find great deals on ebay for montana highway patrol and wyoming highway patrol. Get the best deals on collectible montana police patches when you shop the largest online selection at. Find great deals on ebay for highway patrol hat when you shop the largest online selection at. Velcro backed morale patches gained popularity during the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Its a good resource for anyone trying to figure out whats happening on montanas roadways if youre traveling find out what highways might slow you down also shows when the call was received and. Montana was a rough and rowdy territory that used vigilantes to maintain law and order.
Nov 29, 2007 the exactness of a 3 7 77 is traced to the vigilantes who rode hoard on montana in the 186080s and said they were a law abiding group meant to uphold the law. For that same reason, the association of montana troopers has carried on that tradition by placing the legendary 3777 on their patch as well. People who found the numbers 3 7 77 painted on their tent or cabin knew that they had better leave the area or expect to be on the receiving end of vigilantism. The final four numbers of 3 7 77 tie in with montana s history. Woe be unto he that attracts the ire of the montana. Vigilante activities continued, although somewhat sporadically, through the montana territorial period until the territory became the state of montana on november 8, 1889.
Vision zero zero fatalities and serious crashes on nd roadways. The history of vigilante justice and the montana vigilantes began in 1863 in what was at the time a remote part of eastern idaho territory. Frederick allen, montana vigilantes and the origins of 3 7 77, montana the magazine of western history 51 spring 2001. At tactical shit, we curate the best morale patches as they happen from hundreds of manufacturers world wide. Montana highway patrol changes tollfree, nonemergency. The patrol star with the state seal is at the center of the patch, above the vigilante code, 3777. Evolution of an environmentalist senator frank church and the hells canyon controversy by sara e. What is the significances of the 3 7 77 on the montana highway patrol uniforms. Dec 12, 2017 what is 3 7 77, associated with the montana vigilantes.
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