Between 1933 and 1934, Montana led the nation with a 74% increase in highway fatalities. This led to the notion that Montana needed an agency to safeguard its highways. From a pool of 1500 applicants, 24 recruits were chosen to attend the first Highway Patrol Recruit Academy, and in May the Montana Highway Patrol was born. Since its inception, the Montana Highway Patrol has strived to reduce fatalities by a combination of enforcement and education.

In 1939, the Association of Montana Highway Patrolmen, now the Association of Montana Troopers (AMT), was founded. Initially started to aid officers in their personal lives, the Association provides additional benefits at retirement and college scholarship grants to children of active members. Often, special donations are given to members with catastrophic or emergency circumstances.

Another major goal of the AMT is to interact with Montana youth. In a society where many of our children are at risk, the AMT strives to promote solid citizenship, a drug free life, and safety in automobile use.

In an effort to improve automobile safety in the state, the Association maintains the Little Convincer Seat Belt Program. Similar to the Seatbelt Convincer used for adults, this apparatus uses stuffed animals instead of people and is directed toward elementary school children. It strives to show the disastrous consequences of failing to wear automobile safety belts, and the effectiveness of safety belt restraints.

Among the Associations primary focuses are community service and donations to charitable causes, including the Special Olympics and the Montana Law Enforcement Museum. But the pride of the Association is its sponsorship of the Montana Hope Project. Designed to grant children with life-threatening illnesses the fulfillment of their life’s wish, the Hope Project is an organization run entirely by volunteers both past and present troopers, as well as members of the community. It is funded exclusively by private and corporate donations, as well as large fund raisers such as the Ride for Hope and the Yellowstone Club Golf Tournament, but receives no federal funding. Numerous children have been recipients of wishes such as travel, computers, and visits with celebrities.

Seeking to serve both the public an patrol officers, the Association of Montana Troopers continues its efforts as a non-profit organization to improve safety and awareness among Montana’s citizens, and to give just a little more to the State of Montana.