Sheriff Lester reflects on 36 years working St. Patrick’s Day, reminds revelers to be smart

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester said there’s no place like Butte America on St. Patrick’s Day.

As a seasoned law enforcement officer, the sheriff can back that statement up, as this year marks his 36th working during Butte’s Irish celebration.

“I really enjoy the parade and all the people in the afternoon,” he said. “You see people you haven’t seen since last year.”

Sheriff Lester said Butte police officers, along with Montana Highway Patrol troopers, will be out in force the entire weekend through St. Patrick’s Day.

“We stress the extra patrols, so people know they’ll be seeing a lot of law enforcement,” said Lester.

Lester advises revelers to come up with a plan to have a safe and sober ride home before venturing uptown.

Last year’s three-day celebration resulted in 39 arrests, including 24 people cited for driving under the influence.

“We always see people at the end of the night who have had a great time and then make a dumb decision to try to drive home,” he said.

To have a safe and successful celebration, the sheriff said revelers heading to Uptown Butte should respect the people around them.

“We want people to have a great time,” he said, “but we want everyone to go home safely at the end of the celebration.”