Deputy Shane Brost honored with Award of Valor

School District No. 1 held an assembly in partnership with the Big Horn County Sheriff’s office to recognize the many accomplishments of Big Horn County deputy Shane Brost and other deputies in conjunction with Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
An assembly was planned for Friday, Jan. 5, for the recognition. Deputy Brost, the school resource officer for Rocky Mountain Schools, was first called away to Rocky Mountain Elementary School prior to the assembly starting, then called back to Rocky Mountain Middle/High School, and at the start of the assembly was greeted by RMMHS students, town members, family members and members of the Sheriff’s Department. After a brief introduction by principal Betsy Sammons, Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn gave a presentation on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, its inception and what it means.
Sheriff Blackburn went on to explain the qualifications within the Sheriff’s Department for Awards of Valor. He explained valor is a heroic act that puts oneself at great risk. Blackburn emphasized this by recognizing Sgt. Jeff Angell, who at the risk of his life, along with another law enforcement officer, entered a burning house in 2022 and was able to extricate a child from the smoke and flames, saving the child’s life at great risk to his own. Sheriff Blackburn acknowledged that Sgt. Angell was not properly recognized and stated that he had promised that when Deputy Angell was overlooked that he would find the time to recognize him for his acts.
Sheriff Blackburn went on to explain that valor can be a totality of many circumstances of doing one’s job daily above the call of duty as is the case with Deputy Brost. Blackburn explained three major situations where Deputy Brost’s direct efforts provided enhanced safety for the students at Rocky Mountain. Many students were not aware of the efforts, but Deputy Brost had put an extraordinary amount of energy and effort into safely resolving these situations, the sheriff said. They include working with students on various service projects that improve the community in Cowley when no one else was willing to come forward and make a difference in the community.
He also noted two specific criminal cases that Deputy Brost had worked on and investigated to make the Cowley area safer.  Finally, a specific incident involving a 4-wheeler accident, where Deputy Brost, because of his location at the schools in Cowley, was able to immediately respond and preform lifesaving measures on a child who had a 4-wheeler roll on her.
Deputy Brost’s rapid response and immediate efforts to perform CPR and other lifesaving measures were able to restore pulse and breathing so a child could be transferred to a higher level of care at the hospital. Blackburn emphasized this support and the teamwork of the North Big Horn Hospital ambulance, Lovell Fire Department and other sheriff’s deputies who worked together on the tragedy. Blackburn went on to explain that once the child was at the hospital being cared for, Sgt. Angell and Deputy Brost immediately began a search to locate the parents of the child. The parents were in a remote area near Meeteetse, elk hunting at the time of the accident.
The direct efforts of Sgt. Angell and Deputy Brost utilized five different law enforcement agencies in an effort to notify the parents so that they could return and be with their child. The child was transferred to a Billings hospital and was joined there by her parents, largely due to the efforts of Sgt. Angell and Deputy Brost. Blackburn noted that the parents were able to be with their child and make critical decisions for her health care and be with her to say goodbye when she finally succumbed to her injuries. This incident occurred in October of 2022.
Blackburn went on to explain that valor doesn’t always mean flowers and roses at the end. Sometimes it’s being able to give a family the opportunity to say goodbye to a loved one, or to protect a family or vulnerable people from unseen enemies. Blackburn shared a quote: “Nobody wants to acknowledge a warrior until the enemy is at the gate,” referring to the often dark things that law enforcement officers have to deal with to protect citizens who never know. Because of Deputy Brost’s service to the citizens of Big Horn County, his peers nominated him for this award.
Blackburn went on to quote an editorial from David Peck in the most recent addition of the Chronicle seeking ideas for simple acts of kindness. Blackburn explained that it was a great thing that the Chronicle was dedicating a space in the newspaper to recognize ideas on how we can be kinder. In the article, Peck said that our nation has become divided and in a nation with so many blessings it’s amazing to see the negativity. Blackburn emphasized that the editor of the Chronicle had hit the nail on the head, saying it is imperative that we take control of our lives and find the good in everyone.
Blackburn challenged the students to look up the Walt Disney show Pollyanna and make an effort to be kinder to one another. He challenged the students, family and staff in attendance to be more thankful, and if they see an officer, healthcare worker, ambulance personnel or fireman to take a minute to say thanks for the job they are doing. The sheriff said this didn’t need to stop with Law Enforcement Appreciation Day but can be in all aspects of those who serve including their teachers and others.
The world is what we make it, Blackburn said, and it’s time to make our little corner of the world more positive and be more kind to others. With that, Sheriff Blackburn asked Deputy Brost’s family to come forward. Brost’s wife, Cammie, pinned the bars that he will wear on his uniform, and his mother, Brenda, placed the Medal of Valor around his neck recognizing the Valor Award within the community he serves.
Blackburn concluded his remarks stating that, often times, others don’t know the burdens others are carrying, the wounds on their hearts or the scars in their souls that are burdening them. He reminded everybody to have more compassion and kindness as the article in the Chronicle stated. Principal Sammons then took the microphone and presented a plaque to Deputy Brost for his service to the school and his efforts as a school resource officer. Deputy Brost was then congratulated by his family and the students at Rocky Mountain, and a reception was held in his honor in the library.