MISSOULA, Montana — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana recognized Missoula Police Officer Dylan Harris as a Hometown Hero during a May 21 ceremony tied to the nation’s Freedom 250 celebration.
According to the official U.S. Attorney’s Office release, Harris has served with the Missoula Police Department since 2021 and currently works as the school resource officer for Hellgate High School.
School resource officer, field trainer and crisis negotiator
The federal release said Harris also serves as a field training officer, crisis team negotiator and leader and instructor for the department’s riot team. Before joining Missoula police, he began his law-enforcement career with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state in 2016 after graduating from the University of Montana.
The recognition also noted Harris’ military service. From 2024 to 2025, he deployed to northeast Syria as a captain in the Oregon National Guard during Operation Inherent Resolve, serving as a battery commander for two batteries in separate locations with more than 100 soldiers under his command. The release said that service earned him the Bronze Star.
“Public service is one of the hallmarks of this great country and working in law enforcement and serving in the military are two of its purest forms,” Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said in the release. “We’re honored to recognize Officer Harris for his selfless commitment to his city, state, and country.”
A family tradition of public service
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Harris comes from a law-enforcement family. His father served with the Portland Police Bureau and currently serves with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and his brother is a sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department in Washington.
The release said Harris is supported by his wife and son and remains dedicated to the City of Missoula and the broader community. ThinBlueNews is treating this as an officer-recognition story and is relying on the official public release for the facts, titles and quoted remarks.
Sources reviewed
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana: Missoula police officer honored as Hometown Hero
- Official DOJ source photo: Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot presents Missoula Police Officer Dylan Harris with Hometown Hero Award
Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used the official DOJ source photo with attribution and added headline/source labeling. No staged or AI-generated law-enforcement imagery was used.