County Retires Ellerton’s Badge
The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office will always remember Sgt. Michael Ellerton who died on July 1, 2025, after a four-year battle with cancer.
Last week, the county commissioners approved the sheriff’s office’s request to retire Ellerton’s badge, #13.
Ellerton served Roosevelt County for six years and was known as the K-9 officer and drug enforcement deputy.
Sheriff Jason Frederick said, “Michael was part of the family. We all have been touched by his excellence, kindness and caring heart.”
Frederick added, “Retiring his badge is just a small token of our appreciation for his dedication to the county.”
The only other badge retired for Roosevelt County was for Gary Alvstad who died on Oct. 18, 2011, and wore badge #9. Alvstad served in Roosevelt County from 1982 to 2004.
The resolution approved by commissioners reads, “Sgt. Ellerton served Roosevelt County with honorable service and commitment to high standards of integrity and dedication to duty in his service to law enforcement and the people of Roosevelt County.”
The resolution continued, “The board of county commissioners of Roosevelt County wishes to honor Sgt. Ellerton for his service to law enforcement and the people of Roosevelt County, Montana, by retiring his deputy county sheriff badge No. 13..”
According to his obituary, Ellerton’s desire to serve led him down the path to become a deputy where he could protect people and take criminals off the street. He went through K-9 and SWAT training. That training proved fruitful as he helped find missing children. He also took on other investigative tasks.
