HELENA – The “Back the Blue Barbecue” kicked off at noon at the North Helena Safeway on Wednesday.
Dozens of local firemen, police officers, military personnel and community members came out to show their support.
The barbecue was to support Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer, who was shot three times near Evaro while investigating a Missoula shooting nearly two weeks ago.
He was taken to Salt Lake City where his condition remains critical. Palmer has been with the Montana Highway Patrol since 2012 and, in 2014, earned the patrol’s highest honor: the Medal of Valor.
Trooper Palmer has a wife and two children. All money raised at the barbecue will support Palmer and his family while he receives treatment. Organizers estimate over $10,000 was raised.
Eric Dowell, assistant store manager at North Helena Safeway, resolved his store’s role in putting on the event was to “show the police department that we have their back, that our store is here to support, and we will take care of whatever we can to help out.”
Dowell said they will cook until they run out of food.
For more information on donating to Trooper Palmer and his family, the Montana Highway Patrol has compiled a list of all the approved fundraisers, please see below.
A Note about Fundraisers: We have been so blessed by the generosity of many during this difficult time and so many of…
Posted by Montana Highway Patrol on Friday, March 22, 2019
-Reported by Christine Sullivan/MTN News
