(HELENA) Montana Highway Patrol leaders are thanking the public for the continued outpouring of support for Trooper Wade Palmer and his family.
On Monday, the MHP headquarters in Helena had several boxes of cards, letters and packages that people had mailed in for the family.
Palmer is continuing to recover at a hospital in Utah, after he was wounded in a shooting near Missoula earlier this month. The suspect is accused of killing one man and injuring three other people in a pair of shootings.
“The support we’ve gotten has been overwhelming to everybody involved in this tragic event,” said Lt. Col. Jason Hildenstab, MHP’s deputy chief. “I know I spent the last week in Utah with Trooper Palmer’s wife and I know she’s feeling the same thing. It’s just astounding how much the community has risen up for this tragedy, for our troop and the other victims involved as well.”
MHP leaders have said Palmer’s condition remains critical, but they are optimistic he will keep improving.
“He continues to fight hard in the hospital,” said Hildenstab. “I keep hearing from the doctors down there how tough he is.”
MHP is encouraging people to wear green in honor of Trooper Palmer, through the “Back the Blue, Wear the Green” hashtag campaign. They have green ribbons available at their offices in Helena and Great Falls.
Hildenstab said the support from the public means a lot, especially at this time.
“The support we get – I don’t know if you can realize the impact it actually has, especially on our day-to-day troopers and the families,” he said. “It really makes them understand what they’re doing is important and that people respect what they do and the dangers they put themselves in.”
