Lake County deputy, SRO rehired

POLSON — Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Shoemaker was reinstated April 24 nearly six weeks after he was terminated for alleged policy violations.

Shoemaker has returned to his post as the school resource officer for Arlee, Charlo and St. Ignatius.

“The reinstatement comes following new information which has cleared Shoemaker of any wrongdoing,” a release from Lake County Sheriff Jay Doyle said. “I have always worked very hard to make sure that I am doing the right things at the right time and for the right reasons. Reinstating Deputy Shoemaker is the right thing to do.”

Shoemaker received back pay and benefits for the six weeks in which he was not employed, the release said.

The deputy declined to comment on the situation.