Helena Housing Authority
The Helena Housing Authority officer was implemented on October 1, 1993, and was funded by a Federal Drug Elimination grant. The Helena Housing Officer's patrol responsibilities include 26 housing sites containing 366 apartments within the City of Helena. The Helena Housing Authority Officer is responsible for all incidents and needs for enforcement action that occur on Helena Housing Authority Properties during the time he is on shift. The officer's duties are highly public relations oriented, assisting with Neighborhood Watch, McGruff House, and children's activities.
HHA provides housing for medium to low-income families. The program is set up to provide services that will enable you to become independent and self-sufficient. HHA offers their residents a vast array of services including job training, educational opportunities and Head Start classes for children. The waiting list for public housing moves quickly and can often provide you and/or your family an apartment within weeks of applying.
Senior Officer Roy Tanniehill is currently assigned as the Helena Housing Officer.
Sr. Officer Roy Tanniehill has been serving the Helena Police Dept. since 1993. Before joining forces with the Helena Police, he had started his career as a Detention Officer and Reserve Deputy with the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 1989. Senior Officer Tanniehill is a Glock Armor instructor and an instructor in Firearms (member of Jim Gregg’s hole in one club), as well has being a Master Hitman Instructor (use of force, counter assault, weaponless defensive tactics, handcuffing etc.) He as served in many capacities within the department such as: Honor Guard, SWAT, CDT Team, CIT Team, Bicycle, Dare and participates in the Physical Fitness Incentive program twice a year with the Department.
He had won the STAFF award while attending basic #87, at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. (Staff Award – If you were in a very dangerous situation and you had to have one officer as your backup, what officer would you have?) He also won Officer of the Year Award in 1996. (Making several drug arrest and drug interdiction, traffic stops.). He also served as a regional director for the Montana Narcotics Officers Association.
He was awarded two uniform service pins. (One for assisting in capturing prison escapees, who broke loose out of a prison transport van. Second, for assisting in a homicide arrest, which led to a conviction, of two suspects).
Officer Tanniehill was one of the first School Resource Officers for Helena Middle School and Helena High School for seven years. During that time, he brought the idea of a Junior Police Academy to Rae Forsyth and Officer Tim Coleman. Together, they made the Junior Police Academy take off in the State of Montana. (This program has been a great success and is now fully funded by the Montana Chiefs of Police.) This program is run annually since 2000 and is open to high school students from around Montana. Every other year, one student is selected to attend the FBI National Leadership Academy. He was very active in the SRO Program and participated in many programs. He gives full credit to the school administrators for helping making the program it is today.
In July 2007 Senior Officer Tanniehill was assigned to the Helena Housing Authority. He is proud to serve in this position and will challenge himself to see what new changes he can bring.
Senior Officer Tanniehill is very active with his wife and three children. He enjoys, riding ATV’s, raising horses and working on or around the family’s small ranch. He enjoys artwork and is an artist. He paints, sculptures (bronze), and makes tradition Native American dance regalia for himself and his family.
Officer Tanniehill is a federally enrolled Native American (Assiniboine, Chippewa-Cree). He is active in his Native Culture. Pow Wow circuit, ceremonies, traditions (living in today’s society, but carrying the old traditions).
Thus far, Senior Officer Tanniehill is pleased and proud of his journey in law enforcement and where it has taken him. He is most thankful to his wife and kids, for being his family.