Meet Sheriff/Coroner ​Vern Burdick

Sheriff Burdick took office in 2006, when Sheriff Doug William's stepped down after 34 years of service. He started his law enforcement career in 1995 in Fort Benton, Montana as a deputy patrolman. Vern's years as a Deputy Sheriff with the Chouteau County Sheriff's Office prepared him for his tenure as Sheriff of Chouteau County. He has worked as a Civil Deputy, Evidence Technician and finally Jail Administrator. After an overwhelming successful election bid in 2006, Vern retains his office serving the public he is committed to. He loves the job and especially loves serving the citizens of Chouteau County.
Chouteau County Sheriff’s Office is located in North Central Montana, about 100 miles south of the Canadian border. Established in 1865, it is one of the original nine counties of the Montana territory. Chouteau County was once the largest county in the Montana Territory and the second largest in the United States. Chouteau County was subdivided repeatedly to form other counties until it reached its present size, an area of 3,936 square miles and a population of 5,738. It is home to the Chippewa Cree tribe on the Rocky Boys Indian reservation in the Bear Paw Mountains to the northeast and contains part of the Lewis and Clark National Forest in the Highwood Mountains to the south. The county consists of the towns of Big Sandy, Carter, Fort Benton, Geraldine, Highwood, Loma, Square Butte, Knees, and Floweree and all rural areas within Chouteau County.