Unfortunately, the origin of the numbers 3-7-77 seen on the flight suits of the Montana Air National Guard and most notably, the shoulder patch on the Montana Highway Patrol uniforms is elusive.  

According to Wikipedia, the number set may have something to do with the date March 7, 1877 which was the first documented evidence of use of the symbol in a vigilante scenario. Or the numbers represent the dimensions of a grave: 3 feet by 7 feet by 77 inches deep. 

Frederick Allen, in his book "A Decent Orderly Lynching," says the number meant the person had to buy a $3 ticket on the next 7 a.m. stagecoach to take the 77-mile trip from Helena to Butte. 

There’s a longer list but it’s evident that nobody knows the meaning, however, that doesn’t mean it is insignificant. 

In 1956, it was added to the uniform of the MHP by the then Chief Alex B. Stephenson as a tribute to the vigilantes, the first law enforcement group in Montana Territory. 

Sgt. Shawn Smalley of Superior has worn this uniform for 20 years this coming July with honor. 

“The MHP has a long and strong mission statement but boiled down, we are here to safeguard the public. Generally, that’s through reducing the number of crashes through enforcement and education. But on the other side of the coin comes the investigation of crashes and accident injuries.” 

77 miles of I-90 runs through Mineral County and you will see red and white marker crosses in locations of fatal vehicle accidents. Multiple white crosses on the same red post signify the number killed in that one accident. 

“When you analyze the primary reason for the deadly accidents or ones with the higher severity of injuries, and that’s what we focus on, those are DUI’s, seatbelts and speeding in that order from my observations. If you look back to why the Highway Patrol was created back in the 30s it’s because people were dying on the highways.” 

It was a state decision to form the agency and not under national regulations, Smalley said. 

Montana was once known for having no speed limits; only safe and prudent driving but the no speed zone is all that anyone heard and still to this day, the reputation carries on. But that’s not the case and as a rule of thumb, speeding citations start at $40 for over 80 mph which is about 1/3 the cost of an entry level speeding ticket in Washington state.

“What happens now is that so much of what was done on paper is now automated. I punch in the speed of the driver and it calculates the amount owed into the citation,” Smalley explained. 

Across the state, the speed limit is 80 mph on the interstates but when there is a high rate of accidents over an area that has been monitored, the speed limit drops to as low as 65 mph known as a restricted or urban zone which also carries the higher fines if broken. 

Highway Patrol officers, or troopers, are assigned to duty stations where the trooper must live within 30 air miles of the assigned area and there are three in Plains and four in Superior. Smalley’s supervisory area is Mineral and Sanders counties and there are seven troopers, counting himself. If he had an unlimited budget, he would like to have six troopers in Mineral County and four in Sanders to avoid crossover and have a stronger advantage of safety along I-90, especially near Lookout Pass.

Here’s a tidbit of information: When you see a vehicle on the side of the road that has the date grease marked on the glass, the MHP has authority to have it towed in 48 hours. This is for vehicles, something with an engine in it, and the owner needs to notify MHP if they need extra time for retrieval. Trailers, etc. have different rules as the Montana Department of Transportation handles the removal of those tow-behind units.

Smalley says that all the local law enforcement agencies assist one another and are glad to help. 

“We have to work this way out here as we all know we need each other. We each other’s back. This is a good working relationship with the law enforcement community in both counties and we are certainly there to help all the other agencies.” 

This cohesiveness carries with the Quick Response Units and fire departments, too. 

“They are a huge help. All of them are, and with that high crash corridor west of St. Regis to the pass, the West End Volunteer Fire Department is incredible and usually first on the crash scene. The St. Regis Volunteer Fire Department is also awesome in getting up there,” he said. “If there is vehicle blockage, they (the fire departments) are going to get called. If there is any thought that there might be an injury, they are almost certain to be called.” 

What about assistance from Idaho? 

“Every so often we do have medical from the other side, especially on a fatal, it’s really bad.” He shared the jurisdiction parameters and issues are the reason that Idaho isn’t in Montana more often. Near Heron and Noxon, an air ambulance from Sacred Heart Hospital from Spokane is the closest in response time.  “It’s a hop, skip and a jump if you look at a map where the northwest portion of Sanders County is to Spokane,” Smalley shares.

In his 20 years, Smalley has seen and dealt with almost every scenario possible, but he credits other agencies for making his career as meaningful as it has been in public safety.