County residents who appreciated the strong leadership, commitment to community safety and unwavering friendship of Sheriff Chuck Maxwell will pause today to pay respects to the longtime public servant who passed away Friday at his home of cancer.

Hundreds of officers, dignitaries and friends are expected to be in attendance at the MetraPark Expo Center for today's 2 p.m. funeral. After the service, a long and somber procession will carry him to Mountview Cemetery for interment. Thousands who cannot attend the services will no doubt pause to reflect on the contributions he made in his 45 years of law enforcement, 16 as Yellowstone County sheriff.

The tributes have been numerous and heartfelt as news of Maxwell's passing spread throughout the region. Those who knew him well described him as a gentleman, a compassionate person, a loyal colleague.

"He was definitely the champion for the men and women in his department and the people of Yellowstone County," said Billings Police Chief Rich St. John. Maxwell was the "epitome of professionalism," he said.

"A sheriff's sheriff" was how Yellowstone County Attorney Dennis Paxinos described the man with whom he worked for 19 years. "He was a great leader and he will be sorely missed."

"It was his goal to help people, and he did that throughout his career," said Undersheriff Jay Bell, who worked with Maxwell for more than 30 years. "I'm certainly going to miss one of my best friends."

His law enforcement career began in 1964 in Miles City, where he served with the military police at the Air Force radar station before being discharged and signing on with the Custer County Sheriff's Office. He moved to Billings in 1977 and moved through the ranks before being named sheriff in 1992 when Sheriff Mike Schafer died in office. Voters showed their support and confidence in Maxwell's leadership by electing him sheriff in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.

His long career is full of notable accomplishments. Among them, Maxwell was instrumental in pushing for a better communication system to help local law enforcement agencies work together across different radio networks. He also supported construction of a firearms training range and a defensive-driving training center. He worked to provide his department with latest technology. He was named the U.S. Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the U.S. Marshal's Service in 1999 for his work dealing with the aftermath of the Montana Freemen standoff.

We join the community today in paying last respects to Sheriff Chuck Maxwell, a faithful public servant who left a lasting mark on the department he guided so well for so many years.

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