2 deputies shot, 1 dead after traffic stop in Columbia County(Georgia)

WSBTV2 ^ | 4/26/25 | staff

[CFW]

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. — A Columbia County sheriff’s deputy is dead and another hospitalized after a traffic stop turned into a shootout.

According to ABC affiliate WJBF, the deputies were performing the traffic stop near Exit 194 on Interstate 20 around 6:30 p.m.

WJBF reported that the driver, James Blake Montgomery, opened fire, hitting both deputies, then drove off in a camper or RV.

Members of law enforcement told WJBF that the vehicle is currently surrounded and investigators are searching the nearby area for Montgomery.

Columbia County investigators told WJBF that the officers had been trying to serve Montgomery with a temporary protective order, more commonly known as a restraining order.

WJBF reports that it is not currently known if Montgomery is alive or dead inside the camper that is surrounded.

[freepersup]

Officer Down Memorial Page

https://www.odmp.org/

Police Mourning Bands

https://store.odmp.org/police-mourning-bands/

Mourning Band Protocol

https://www.odmp.org/info/mourning-band-protocol

Deputy Sheriff Brandon Sikes

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia

End of Watch Saturday, April 26, 2025

https://www.odmp.org/officer/27384-deputy-sheriff-brandon-sikes

[freepersup]

Placement on Badges

The preferred mourning band is a solid black band that will fit tightly around your agency’s badge. For most badges, the mourning band should be worn straight across the center of the badge. For star badges, the mourning band should be worn from 11 to 5, as if looking at the face of a clock.

The width of the black band should not exceed ½ inch. Mourning bands with the thin blue line are not preferred, although some agencies use them.

Black mourning bands shall be worn on a law enforcement badge only in the following circumstances:

Upon the line of duty death of an active law enforcement officer (LEO) in your department. The mourning band should be worn for a period of thirty days from the date of death.

By all LEO in uniform or in civilian clothing while displaying a badge when attending the funeral of an active LEO. Upon the completion of the funeral, the mourning band shall be removed.

Upon the line of duty death of a LEO from a neighboring jurisdiction. The mourning band will be worn from the date of death and removed at the conclusion of the day of burial.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th).

The day of any memorial service your agency has honoring your department’s LEO’s who have died in the line of duty.

At the direction of your sheriff, agency director or chief of police, when special circumstances dictate that a department display of official mourning is appropriate.

[freepersup]

Placement on Vehicles

It is also appropriate to stripe the badge(s) on your agency’s vehicles, if one is displayed, for a line of duty death. Black ½ inch electrical tape or black ½ magnets could be used. Preferred striping is from left to right on the badge and go from 1100 to 1700 hours using a clock as a reference. A straight black line through the middle of the badge is also appropriate.

This mourning band protocol was developed by Lieutenant (Retired) Ken Baine, during his time as commander of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Police Department Honor Guard.

[SandwicheGuy]

That is really not the point. The second part of what I said was this act divides the police from the civilian population. I don’t have a badge on which to put some blue or black tape.
I am old enough to remember doing right alongs with the beat cop after shift work. Now, say hello to a cop and you might end up in jail overnight before you can see a magistrate. Little things like this are just an indication of the vast divide between the police and the populace.

[null and void]

Now, say hello to a cop and you might end up in jail overnight before you can see a magistrate.

I think that might, just might, have more to do with a divide between Police and mere civilians than a black band honoring an officer killed in the line of duty, don't you?

Although back in the early 70s I waved to a cop. He popped a quick u-turn and pulled me over. I explained to him it was just a friendly wave of support, he explained to me he thought I was flagging him down. We had a good laugh.