"American Police Force" Take Over Montana Town
Group Impersonates Town Police in Mercedes SUVs with Serbian Signia
Officials in the rural town of Hardin, Montana, engaged in an uncontracted agreement with a private paramilitary security company, which calls itself the "American Police Force" to guard an empty prison.
A 10-year contract between Hardin and the "American Police Force" was announced in mid-September by an administrator who was placed on paid leave two days later.
Yet, the unsigned contract is not scheduled for a vote until early October.
"American Police Force" Appear as Town Police
The private paramilitary security company emerged in May 2009, calling itself “American Police Force." The company has refused to provide information regarding its funding sources.
Despite the secrecy, the town of Hardin's ecomonic development arm, the Two Rivers Authority, represented by Al Peterson, approved the company.
As reported by Nick Lough of KULR-8 TV, "Two Rivers Authority allowed the private military company to impersonate a non-existent Hardin Police force."
In the Sept. 16, 2009, Billings Gazette, reporter Becky Shay noted that town officials remain committed to American Police Force. Shay then quit her job to be spokeswoman for the American Police Force at $60,000 a year. According to Shay:
"Peterson said board members individually and as a group have seen enough documentation - although he wouldn't elaborate on what type of documents - and have met personally with representatives of the company and believe it is both solvent and trustworthy."
Reporter Sarah Gravlee, from KURL-8 TV, Billings, Montanta, quoted Peterson, "I think it's a great situation. I have found these people to be great community partners."
The company then removed the police logos upon the request of the Mayor of Hardin, Ron Adams,
Prison Fails State Guidelines, Sits Empty, with Invitation to Guantanamo Bay Prisoners
In 2007, with a stated intention of boosting Hardin’s sagging economy and provide local jobs, Hardin town officials spent $27 million on a 464-bed prison facility. The prison does not meet state standards for prisons, and has sat empty for two years.
The town funded the prison through bonds, which are now in default.
There is speculation that the prison was never intended to house “regular” prisoners, and instead is for political prisoners.
Town officials have offered the prison as a place to house "Gitmo" prisoners, if Barak Obama closes the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
“American Police Force” Drive SUVs Marked with Serbian "Royal" Crest
In late September 2009, the American Police Force" began driving around Hardin in three new black Mercedes SUVs, marked as Hardin police, with the company logo of a pair of crowned eagles. This crest of arms reportedly belongs to "His Royal Highness Prince Aleksandar Karageorgevich of the Serbian Royal Family."
There has been no Hardin police force for thirty years. with the town serviced by the Big Horn County Sherrif's Office.
"APF Captain" Michael Hilton Has Numerous Aliases and Legal Problems.
In an article published in the Billings Gazette, "APF Head Hilton Has History of Legal Trouble," Sept. 30, 2009, reporter Ruffin Provost notes that Hilton says he is a naturalized U.S. citizen, from Montenegro, on the border of Serbia, formerly part of Republic of Yugoslavia.
Hilton has at least seventeen aliases, most of Serbian origin, including Midrag Ilia Dokovitch, and Michael Miodrag.
Hilton has also repeatedly been in legal and financial trouble.
Secrecy Fuels Worries of a Police State
The secrecy has fueled worries of a military take-over. On Thursday, October 1, radio personality Alex Jones of Infowars arrived in Hardin to investigate the company and its plans. Jones' concern about a military take-over have been ridiculed, specifically by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer.
However, Tom Lutey, in an article for the Billings Gazette, "APF Spokesperson Holds Emotional Press Conference; Lawyer Quits Project." wrote that Jones was asking the same questions as the area newspapers and television stations:
"He questioned the credibility of Hilton, a felon with 17 aliases, who has filed for bankruptcy and faces multiple fraud accusations in the California civil courts. And he questioned whether California-based APF was truly a private government contractor and security force as it suggests, but provides no supporting evidence."
"American Police Force" Plans to Stay in Hardin, Montana, and develop a training area. Meanwhile, the APF attorney has quit. Former reporter Becky Shay has broken down in news conferences, crying, and saying that she does not feel safe.
References
"American Police Force and Hardin Montana Police: Internet Scam?" World Boxx. Sept. 29, 2009.
Provost, Ruffin. "APF Head Hilton Has History of Legal Trouble." Billings Gazette. Sept. 30, 2009.
Americanpolicegroup.com
Brown, Matthew. “Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation of Jail Deal with California Company..” Los Angeles Times. October 1, 2009.
Gravlee, Sarah. "American Police Force." KURL-8 Television. Billings, Montana. Sept. 14, 2009.
"H.R.H. Prince Aleksandar Karageorgevich.Serbian Royal Family"
Lee, John. “Servian Kuwaiti Mercs of Blackwater ‘American Police Force’ Take Over Montana Town, Posing as Cops for Gitmo POW Contract. Sept. 29, 2009. Fireflyfans.
Lough, Nick. “APF and Hardin Constitution Violations.” Oct. 1, 2009. KULR-8 Television. Billings, Montana. KULR8.com
Lough, Nick. “APF Reaction to Leader’s Criminal Past.” Oct. 1, 2009. KULR-8 Television. Billings, Montana. KULR8.com
Lutey, Tom, and Matthew Brown (Associated Press) "APF Spokesperson Holds Emotional Press Conference; Lawyer Quits Project." Billings Gazette. Oct. 2, 2009.
Shay, Becky. "Hardin's Agency's Exec Put on Leave." Billings Gazette. Sept. 16, 2009.
Who Are in the American Police Force?
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Montana Patrol Cars with Serbian Coat of Arms
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American Police Force SUV Labeled
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