Serving In Law Enforcement Is Local Family’s Tradition
The tradition of the Matthews family serving in law enforcement has continued with Taylor Matthews’ graduation from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy March 30.
Taylor, who is working for the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, is the son of Lewis Matthews and grandson of Mike Matthews, both of whom served or continue to serve in law enforcement in the Wolf Point area.
“I grew up around it and it peaked my interest,” Taylor said of law enforcement.
He has been working for the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office for the past year and one month.
“I like it. It’s a great place to be,” Taylor said of Phillips County. “Our office is full of great people.”
Taylor noted that he got into law enforcement as a way to give back and to help others.
“I want to serve the community the best that I can,” he said.
Lewis explained, “Taylor told me last year he wanted to be a deputy for Phillips County. I gave him all the reasons to not be a police officer, but he said he’d be good at it because he’s been around it so much.”
After coming back from college, Lewis got his start in law enforcement during a summer job as a corrections officer with Roosevelt County. Then-Wolf Point Police Chief Ron Kemp asked him if he wanted to become a police officer in July 2001. Lewis went to the police academy and worked for the city until October 2003. After being offered a job by the Fort Peck Tribes, he served as a patrolman with that agency until 2008 and then became a criminal investigator.
“I’ve worked every single case, good and bad,” Lewis said. “I currently work on federal crimes on the reservation with the FBI.”
Mike retired as the chief deputy for Roosevelt County in 2009. After getting started in Long Polk, Calif., and Englewood, Colo., with the bureau of prisons, Mike returned to Wolf Point and worked as a jailer starting in 1990. His experience includes being the Fort Peck Tribes’ captain of police for a couple of years.
“It was very interesting. I’m glad I did it,” Mike said of his career.
“Being in law enforcement is a lot different than corrections. Those that are locked up, [law enforcement] knows everything about them. Out on the streets, we don’t know anything as far as what [the suspect] can or will do.”
Mike said it wasn’t his decision to have family members go into law enforcement, but he appreciates their dedication.
Mike’s son Joshua Rutherford was shot and killed when he and another Blaine County Deputy responded to a domestic disturbance on U.S. Route 2 in Harlem on May 29, 2003.
“When family is in law enforcement, you’re always kind of on edge,” Mike said. “Phone calls in the middle of the night still make me jump.”
Taylor explained that his father, grandfather and Uncle Josh were role models for him during his life.
He expressed his appreciation to his father and grandfather for their support.
“They will do anything for me,” Taylor said.
Mike graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement MLEA Class 84; Rutherford graduated with Class 107; Lewis, with Class 113; and aunt Angela Matthews, IPA Class 203/093. Taylor graduated with MLA Class 174.
