Officer Jeffrey Stovall, a six-year veteran of the Billings Police Department, was arrested and charged for a first offense of driving under the influence by the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Department on May 22, 2020. The incident occurred at 1:20 am while Officer Stovall was off-duty and in his personal vehicle.
He was placed on administrative leave pending completion of criminal and internal investigations. Later, on June 20th, the internal investigation determined that Officer Stovall violated BPD policies and the complaint was sustained. Officer Stovall received a two-week suspension without pay, was removed from the US Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force and reassigned to patrol for a minimum of two years, was removed from the Billings Police Department SWAT team, was made ineligible for any collateral duty for a period of two years, and an incident was reported to Montana P.O.S.T. with a recommendation for admonishment and two-year probation.
Officer Stovall has, or intends to plead guilty to the charge and has completed all requisite court requirements prior to any court order. Along with this, he voluntarily participates in multiple counseling programs.
“I am disappointed that some officers fail to realize they represent this organization on or off duty,” stated Chief St. John. “Actions such as this are not just embarrassing on a personal level; they discredit the entire police department. It is particularly troubling when one of our officers violates the very law we are trying to enforce. It undermines the trust and confidence of the community. Simply stated, this conduct is unacceptable and not representative of the Billings Police Department.”
“I take matters of discipline very seriously,” he added, “especially when the conduct is one deserving of adverse action. In all disciplinary situations, I try to find a balance between discipline and support. In this case, Officer Stovall is a decorated officer with no previous discipline and yearly evaluations that exceed expectations. From the onset, Officer Stovall has owned his mistake, taken responsibility, and taken steps to correct the matter. This incident does not define Officer Stovall, and he will learn from his mistakes, not repeat them, and continue to be an asset to this department and community.”
A lot of the Stovall family seem to make the news….