Sidney Police Department
300 12th Ave. NW, Suite 5
Sidney, MT 59270
History
Chief of Police Fred Hurst (1915-1941)
Left to right – back row: Leslie Lovering – deputy sheriff, Fred Hurst – police chief, Elbert Payne – deputy sheriff, Harry Combes – night police man.
Left to right – front row: Ted O’Brien – sheriff, Carl Brattin – attorney.
Sidney Chiefs of Police
1911 Jack Carberry
1911 – 1915 Roy Heiner
1915 – 1941 Fred Hurst
1941 – 1949 Louie Whited
1949 – 1950 Bud Atchison
1950 Henry Dooley
1950 - 1953 Chris Hansen
1955 Jim Moore
1955 Ollie Barnes and Earl Mauge
1955 - 1968 Jim Moore
1968 - 1981 John P Schmitt
1981 - 2020 Frank DiFonzo
2020 – present Mark E. Kraft
When Sidney was incorporated as a town on April 21, 1911, its population was approximately 386. On June 12, 1911, Jack Carberry was appointed as City Marshall. He died of typhoid fever later that same year and was replaced by Roy Heiner.
On April 12, 1915, Sidney was incorporated as a City, and Fred Hurst became the first Chief of Police, serving until 1941.
By 1940, Sidney’s population had grown to 2,978. In 1941, Louie Whited was appointed Chief of Police, serving until 1949. Altogether, he was on the police force for 25 years. Whited was followed by Bud Atchison who served as Chief for a short time.
The 1950 census showed a steady increase in population at 3,987 residents, and street signal lights were added that year. Henry Dooley became Chief for a short time that year, followed by Chris Hansen, who served until 1953. In 1955, Jim Moore, Ollie Barnes, and Earl Mauge served short terms as Chief. Late in 1955, Jim Moore returned to Sidney and was again appointed Chief serving until 1968. John P. Schmitt became the Acting Chief in 1968 and was confirmed as Chief in 1969.
In January 1981 Frank DiFonzo was appointed as Chief and served for the next 39 years retiring in 2020.
On April 1, 2020, Chief Mark E. Kraft was sworn in and he serves as your current Chief of Police.
Town Marshall Roy Heiner 1911 – 1915, Jack Morrison and Doc Adams
Chief of Police Fred Hurst - whose nickname was “Cop”– Served as the 1st Chief of Police in Sidney. This picture was taken 20 August 1936 while he patrolled in his 1906 Ford Model N patrol car. That car is on display at the Mondak Heritage Center here in Sidney.
Chief of Police Louie Whited (1941 – 1949)
Chief of Police Chris Hansen (1950-1953)
Chief of Police Jim Moore (1955-1968)
left to right: John Schmidt, Harry Schmidt, Jim Moore, Gale Pust, & Web Cornelia
Chief of Police Frank DiFonzo (1981-2020)
Chief Frank DiFonzo was the longest serving Chief of Police in Sidney's history, serving as Chief for 39 years, with a total 50 years in law enforcement. Chief DiFonzo began working for the Sidney Police Department in 1970, after serving in the US Air Force at Glasgow Air Force Base outside of Glasgow, Montana. Chief DiFonzo worked as a patrol officer for the Sidney Police Department for three years before serving with the Montana Highway Patrol for seven years. Chief DiFonzo was appointed Chief of Police on January 1, 1981 and retired on March 31, 2020.
